Possible Kü Luger Origin Story

mrerick · 10-27-2016, 06:26 PM

I'm reading Geoffrey Megargee's excellent book "Inside Hitler's High Command" right now, and have run across an interesting incident that might relate to the origin of the Kü Lugers.

By October, 1942 the Germans were experiencing harsh losses of both personnel and material. The Russian campaigns active since Spring of 1941 were particularly costly.

After sacking Halder as chief of the OKH, Hitler demanded that his replacement Zeitzler scrap a reorganization plan, and instead transfer 200,000 troops from the Luftwaffe to the Army. Goering acted fast to keep his troops, and convinced Hitler to allow Goering to organize ten Luftwaffe "Field Divisions" that would remain under Luftwaffe officers and control.

Already facing extreme shortages, the army was responsible for equipping them.

This could well have lead to the army transferring spare parts to a Luftwaffe armory to assemble into functioning pistols to equip this Luftwaffe fighting land force.

Considering the ratio of officers to enlisted in the ranks, the number of known Kü pistols could well have been enough to equip the officers of these ten field divisions.

It's speculation without any documentation to back it up, but October, 1942 was the timeframe (accounting for Kü receivers dated 1936 to 42) and the need was there.

Should researchers ever access any related records, those high command actions in that timeframe could well help narrow the mystery of the Kü Luger down a bit...

Marc

10-27-2016, 06:26 PM	#1
mrerick Super Moderator - Patron LugerForum Life Patron Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Eastern North Carolina, USA Posts: 3,920 Thanks: 1,377 Thanked 3,135 Times in 1,518 Posts	Possible Kü Luger Origin Story I'm reading Geoffrey Megargee's excellent book "Inside Hitler's High Command" right now, and have run across an interesting incident that might relate to the origin of the Kü Lugers. By October, 1942 the Germans were experiencing harsh losses of both personnel and material. The Russian campaigns active since Spring of 1941 were particularly costly. After sacking Halder as chief of the OKH, Hitler demanded that his replacement Zeitzler scrap a reorganization plan, and instead transfer 200,000 troops from the Luftwaffe to the Army. Goering acted fast to keep his troops, and convinced Hitler to allow Goering to organize ten Luftwaffe "Field Divisions" that would remain under Luftwaffe officers and control. Already facing extreme shortages, the army was responsible for equipping them. This could well have lead to the army transferring spare parts to a Luftwaffe armory to assemble into functioning pistols to equip this Luftwaffe fighting land force. Considering the ratio of officers to enlisted in the ranks, the number of known Kü pistols could well have been enough to equip the officers of these ten field divisions. It's speculation without any documentation to back it up, but October, 1942 was the timeframe (accounting for Kü receivers dated 1936 to 42) and the need was there. Should researchers ever access any related records, those high command actions in that timeframe could well help narrow the mystery of the Kü Luger down a bit... Marc __________________ Igitur si vis pacem, para bellum - - Therefore if you want peace, prepare for war. Last edited by mrerick; 10-27-2016 at 08:14 PM.