WW2 GI with Broomhandle Mauser

[smle-man]

I was watching this video on You Tube about the surrender of German units in Czechoslovakia in 1945, when I noticed an American GI with a Broomhandle Mauser holster stock slung over his shoulder. He appears early in the video. It may be the model 712 that were issued during WW2

[smle-man]

WW2 GI with Broomhandle Mauser

I was watching this video on You Tube about the surrender of German units in Czechoslovakia in 1945, when I noticed an American GI with a Broomhandle Mauser holster stock slung over his shoulder. He appears early in the video. It may be a model 712 that were issued during WW2

[SkyHawk]

I wonder if it was just something he took off one of those surrendered Germans and slung over his shoulder so he could squirrel it back as a war trophy

[Wheellock]

I wonder if it was just something he took off one of those surrendered Germans and slung over his shoulder so he could squirrel it back as a war trophy

I was under the impression you didn't even have to squirrel away to get pistols back to the US. I have seen one with a paper tag on it that was basically a trophy of war approval. Anyone know what the process was in '45?

[SkyHawk]

I was under the impression you didn't even have to squirrel away to get pistols back to the US. I have seen one with a paper tag on it that was basically a trophy of war approval. Anyone know what the process was in '45?

You are correct - but I think you still had to squirrel it, or someone else may divert it to their own collection

[Lmo]

Dad stuffed 'his' Luger into his duffel bag and declared with when he got off of the boat.



Code B from the front side of the inventory

[AR22]

I have heard a few storys of lower ranking soldiers losing their trophys to the higher ranks..I suppose they just had to say, I will take that please,LOL

[crotter]

[pitfighter]

It is very interesting the list of what was and wasn't allowed as a war trophy.
The following is laid out in WW1/2 era legal prose so a little difficult to figure, but interesting nonetheless:

SMG's and MG's were absolutely allowed (up to 1968 anyway.)

To quote, David C. Cole, Chief Collections Management Branch, US Army Center of Military History;
Under section 5841; "...In 1943 it was determined the armed forces would be permitted to bring into the United States captured enemy firearms as defined by the National Firearms Act of 1934, including automatic weapons. Each soldier was required to complete a Treasury Form 6 and to have a certificate signed by his commanding Officer.
The execution of the Form 6 affected the registration of the weapon as required by the law..."

Only weapons designated as issued to an enemy soldier was ok, firearms up to .45" caliber-bore and all gauges of shotguns.
But; "...no firearms capable of being concealed on the person..."

It was also a size and weight limitation, under 25 pounds and had to fit a certain length (pack or barrack bag to meet baggage restrictions), hence all the cut stock K98's, they would stripped and the wood cut down six-seven inches.

Also; no explosives shells, detonators or grenades.

1. "War Trophies" - Any item of enemy public or private property utilized as war material acquired in a combat area or zone within a prescribed period of time as authorized by the commander.

2. CEE "Captured Enemy Equipment" - these were enemy items retained institutionally for reutilization, intelligence or historical purposes.

After those requirements, basically anything that hadn't been obtained in violation of the articles of the Geneva Convention:

The following items are prohibited:
1. nameplates - (these will NOT be removed from enemy equipment except by authorized personnel.)
2. Items which contain explosives.
3. Items of which the value as trophies, as determined by the theater Commander, is outweighed by their usefulness in service or for research or training purposes in the theater of operations or elsewhere, or by their value as critical scrap material.

#3 is possibly where the GI's thought they were being duped out of their trophies by an Officer, lol. It is also where the speeches about contraband would have been directed.
It also would have been easy for a GI on a ship to do the treasury paperwork for an MP40 or MP44 VERY unlike today, so sadly the anecdote is a little out of focus but well intentioned.

[pitfighter]

It is very interesting the list of what was and wasn't allowed as a war trophy.
The following is laid out in WW1/2 era legal prose so a little difficult to figure, but interesting nonetheless:

SMG's and MG's were absolutely allowed (up to 1968 anyway.)

To quote, David C. Cole, Chief Collections Management Branch, US Army Center of Military History;
Under section 5841; "...In 1943 it was determined the armed forces would be permitted to bring into the United States captured enemy firearms as defined by the National Firearms Act of 1934, including automatic weapons. Each soldier was required to complete a Treasury Form 6 and to have a certificate signed by his commanding Officer.
The execution of the Form 6 affected the registration of the weapon as required by the law..."

Only weapons designated as issued to an enemy soldier was ok, firearms up to .45" caliber-bore and all gauges of shotguns.
But; "...no firearms capable of being concealed on the person..."

It was also a size and weight limitation, under 25 pounds and had to fit a certain length (pack or barrack bag to meet baggage restrictions), hence all the cut stock K98's, they would stripped and the wood cut down six-seven inches.

Also; no explosives shells, detonators or grenades.

1. "War Trophies" - Any item of enemy public or private property utilized as war material acquired in a combat area or zone within a prescribed period of time as authorized by the commander.

2. CEE "Captured Enemy Equipment" - these were enemy items retained institutionally for reutilization, intelligence or historical purposes.

After those requirements, basically anything that hadn't been obtained in violation of the articles of the Geneva Convention:

The following items are prohibited:
1. nameplates - (these will NOT be removed from enemy equipment except by authorized personnel.)
2. Items which contain explosives.
3. Items of which the value as trophies, as determined by the theater Commander, is outweighed by their usefulness in service or for research or training purposes in the theater of operations or elsewhere, or by their value as critical scrap material.

#3 is possibly where the GI's thought they were being duped out of their trophies by an Officer, lol. It is also where the speeches about contraband would have been directed.
It also would have been easy for a GI on a ship to do the treasury paperwork for an MP40 or MP44 VERY unlike today, so sadly the anecdote is a little out of focus but well intentioned.

(I've owned an MP44 and MP40 that were both legally brought back by GI's.)