Su = Suhl, not Spandau?

[Don M]

Please note that the title of this post is a question, not a statement!

Over my short career collecting and researching German police markings, I have run across examples of police Lugers with E/SuX markings, where X may be one of several numbers. This abbreviation is found in other markings, as well. I have gleaned from forums, etc. that Su was the abbreviation for Spandau and that these markings indicated acceptance of a component at the military ordnance repair facility at Spandau. I have accepted this without thinking too much about it â?¦. until recently.

In my research, I have studied many examples of abbreviations of place names, particularly in police unit markings. The most space-efficient and prevalent abbreviations are the first letters of the name (e.g., B = Berlin). The next most common abbreviations consist of either the first and second letters of the name (e.g., K�¶ = K�¶ln, St = Stettin) or the first and last letters of the name (e.g., Kg = K�¶nigsberg). In the case of the latter form, I cannot think of an abbreviation where the last letter of the name is a vowel. Another characteristic I have noted is that the abbreviations are all fairly intuitive.

Identification of the abbreviation Su as representing Spandau doesnâ??t really fit this pattern. While it is a combination of the first and last letters of the name, the last letter is a vowel, contrary to all other abbreviations I can think of. Further, the u is half of the diphthong au and it seems more logical and intuitive to use the full diphthong, not half of it (i.e., Sau).

Based on my observations, the abbreviation Su seems much more likely to be the first and second letters of the place name. If so, Suhl comes to mind immediately.

I have briefly searched the forums and several books to see if I could find references to any documentary or other evidence that Su = Spandau. I have found none. This seems to be in the realm of â??conventional wisdom.â?� However, my search has not been exhaustive.

I have two questions:

1. Is there any reliable evidence indicating Su = Spandau?
2. If not, would Suhl be a reasonable candidate considering where the Su abbreviation is found in various stampings?