LUGER FACTS VS. FICTION

Some of the points you raise I have spent a good deal of time researching over the years..this is what I've found:

1.Many if not most officers owned Lugers over the period of both world wars. Many of these were commercial versions but there is serious evidence that they were also allowed to purchase military contracted pieces (probably at a slightly lower cost. Many officers also owned more than one service arm, ie a Luger and a 7.65mm.

2. The contract for WWII era Lugers was actually with the OKW (High Command Wehrmacht)Allocations of Lugers (and everything else) between the Army, Navy and Luftwaffe was decided at that level even though the Army (OKH)was deligated the responsibility of the procurment contracts and inpection offices. After about 1939 the Waffen SS came under the OKW for Arms,equipmet and operations. At this point the W-SS recieved it's arms from the Army at the orders of the OKW. Individual services (Army, Navy, SS Luftwaffe) were not allowed to levey their own contracts for arms (although it would appear the Luftwaffe may have bent some rules here!).

3. Most combat officers carried a 9mm....In WWII, the P.08 was the single most prevelant 9mm in the Geramn Military until at least some point in 1944!