Luger and General German Handgun question

Sergio Natali · 07-31-2014, 01:28 PM

In the Wehrmacht the Luger Pistol was the sidearm of the NCOs and specialized
formations, like as paratroopers, tank crews and pilots.
It was, NEVER an officer’s weapon.
While Italian Army officers were given the small BERETTA 34, officers in the German Armed Forces received some sort of "bonus" with which they could buy their own sidearm, and this was mostly the Walther PP and PPK, and mainly in caliber 7,65 mm .
Also machine gun and mortar crews were equipped with the Luger P08, as well as police and all sorts of semi/para military organisations and the SS .
Later the P.08 was replaced by the WALTHER P38 pistol.
Our beloved "Luger pistols" were simply the standard sidearm of the Wehrmacht, full stop.
In the course o half of a century about 2 million of Lugers were produced, but the Luger was NEVER a status symbol for high rank officers, just a tool, nothing else.

Sergio

07-31-2014, 01:28 PM	#16
Sergio Natali User Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Somewhere in Northern Italy Posts: 2,646 Thanks: 1,087 Thanked 1,783 Times in 1,007 Posts	In the Wehrmacht the Luger Pistol was the sidearm of the NCOs and specialized formations, like as paratroopers, tank crews and pilots. It was, NEVER an officer’s weapon. While Italian Army officers were given the small BERETTA 34, officers in the German Armed Forces received some sort of "bonus" with which they could buy their own sidearm, and this was mostly the Walther PP and PPK, and mainly in caliber 7,65 mm . Also machine gun and mortar crews were equipped with the Luger P08, as well as police and all sorts of semi/para military organisations and the SS . Later the P.08 was replaced by the WALTHER P38 pistol. Our beloved "Luger pistols" were simply the standard sidearm of the Wehrmacht, full stop. In the course o half of a century about 2 million of Lugers were produced, but the Luger was NEVER a status symbol for high rank officers, just a tool, nothing else. Sergio __________________ "Originality can't be restored and should be at the top of any collector's priority list.