North African Campaign 1942

[mrerick]

If you do locate the German officer and his family, it could be quite a chore to return the firearm to them.

You are not permitted to ship the firearm overseas personally. It must be done by a federal firearms license class 01 holder, and then:

2. To export fi rearms other than sporting
shotguns or ammunition for firearms other
than sporting shotguns, the FFL from whom
you purchase the firearm/ammunition must be
registered with the Department of State, Office
of Defense Trade Controls (ODTC). The FFL
must obtain an export license from the ODTC
prior to exportation.

In Germany, the recipient must also obtain a license:

A firearms ownership license (Waffenbesitzkarte) must be obtained before a weapon can be purchased. Owners of multiple firearms need separate ownership licenses for every single firearm they own.

This involves meeting a number of criteria, including "necessity". Few Germans qualify for these licenses unless they are hunters.

- - - -

Weapons like yours are considered trophies of war. The retention of them honors people like your father who honorably met the enemy, survived the encounters and ultimately triumphed for our country.

It would be exceptional if you were able to locate the set of "bring back papers" that probably accompanied the Luger back to the USA with your father.

Marc