Guns of our Fathers

Railsplitter · 04-09-2006, 12:07 AM

My father was a Staff Sergeant in the 84th Infantry. He removed a 42 code 1940 Luger from a very much alive and very angry german officer (Captain, I believe) during the battle of the Ardennes. It now hangs on my wall along with the capture papers. I also have several of the letters he wrote while in the service. In a few he makes mention of his "Jerry pistol". From what my father wrote in his letters it seems the American and German troops had an understanding that went something lke this:

Hunt souvenirs all you like, but if we capture you and you have one in your possesion...you're a dead man.

In fact he mentions in one letter that surrendering german troops would throw up their hands and shout "No watch !! No pistol !!" I'm wondering if anyone has heard of this practice between opposing forces before?? Common practice maybe??

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04-09-2006, 12:07 AM	#7
Railsplitter User Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Chandler, AZ Posts: 112 Thanks: 0 Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts	My father was a Staff Sergeant in the 84th Infantry. He removed a 42 code 1940 Luger from a very much alive and very angry german officer (Captain, I believe) during the battle of the Ardennes. It now hangs on my wall along with the capture papers. I also have several of the letters he wrote while in the service. In a few he makes mention of his "Jerry pistol". From what my father wrote in his letters it seems the American and German troops had an understanding that went something lke this: Hunt souvenirs all you like, but if we capture you and you have one in your possesion...you're a dead man. In fact he mentions in one letter that surrendering german troops would throw up their hands and shout "No watch !! No pistol !!" I'm wondering if anyone has heard of this practice between opposing forces before?? Common practice maybe??