I just had a US veteran in my office this week, who related to me a very funny story that I thought I would share with the forum. He was one of the soldiers in Munich at the end of the war, and was in the Fuhrerbau for a period of time. During his time there, members of his unit picked up many great artifacts. One of his buddies, however, was enterprising and clever. Having found an overcoat that was actually named to Hitler in a closet in the building, he decided to go into business. What he did was to obtain some additional similar coats from a tailor in Munich, to which he added Hitler's name on the tag. He sold these for $100 each to members of rear echelon who came into Munich after the fighting was over. Hungry for a "piece of the Fuhrer" they bought enough of them that the guy was able to make quite a living for a short period of time. Needless to say, that means that somewhere, a collector (or maybe more than one) has a genuine Hitler overcoat with provenance from a veteran, that is absolutely bogus. In fact, there may be several. Funny story, eh?
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In all the years I've been collecting and digging items out of the woodwork from vets and their families I have discovered one common thread:
Never,under any circumstances, was a weapon surrended by a live enlisted soldier. All the daggers,sword,pistols etc. I've bought were taken from a dead German officer at least from the equivelent rank of Colonel. usually after some kind of fierce battle.
When I have quietly pointed out that an item such as this recent acquisition* would never had been found on a battlefield I'm usually met with a shrug.
I would never,under any circumstances, put down our vets or, as is mostly the case any more ,their memory in front of their offspring.
Buti it has had me wondering if the Germans even bothered to arm their enlisted personnel!
* I got this rifle from a vets family. I was told it was a Geman sniper rifle taken from the dead sniper!
JimLast edited by james m; 06-29-2011, 06:15 PM. -
Of all the stories, this one takes the cake - a really funny behind-the-scenes look at tom-foolery!Comment
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Oh yes, I've seen these. The're backup weapons for when a sniper wanted to get REALLY precise.
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From the engraving it looks like it was used near the Sigfried line
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I think this is going to be a fun thread.Originally posted by ErichS View PostFrom the engraving it looks like it was used near the Sigfried line
Ok come on: Who else has interesting stories?
BTW: If anyone on the forum has a stash of 8.15x46R cartridges or the RWS dies for same please contact me. I love to get this rifle back out for my own private "Shutzenfest"!!
BTW: Someone emailed me and I'll post the answer here. The box contains another rear sight that's similiar to the one mounted on the rifle. It contains a "magnifier peep sight" which apparentely was permitted once you reached a certain age. These sights are a masterpiece of German engineering.
BTW: I wonder if the "Hitler coat guy" and Charlie Snyder knew each other!!
JimLast edited by james m; 06-29-2011, 07:08 PM.Comment
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Hi Craig, and thanks for sharing the vignette about the soldier who falsified AH overcoats and proffered them to his unsuspecting comrades. It further illustrates that the impulse to fake things and lie about them has been prevalent from the git-go and not an idea thought up by a few European crooks in the 1960s. There may be many such overcoats -- and who knows what else -- in old and long-established collections, some of which are beyond the sniff of foul play. So sad to contemplate, and it makes this website even the more crucial to the future of our hobby.
Br. JamesComment
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There was a Canadian soldier in Holland who did a great business of taking German helmets and shooting holes through them, then selling them to REM's who wanted a souvenir of the front!
Last edited by Doug Kenwright; 06-30-2011, 01:12 PM.Comment
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yes, i have been told many a times too that i got the gun from a German officer, I guess the evidence is building that only officers carried the guns!Originally posted by james m View PostIn all the years I've been collecting and digging items out of the woodwork from vets and their families I have discovered one common thread:
Never,under any circumstances, was a weapon surrended by a live enlisted soldier. All the daggers,sword,pistols etc. I've bought were taken from a dead German officer at least from the equivelent rank of Colonel. usually after some kind of fierce battle.
When I have quietly pointed out that an item such as this recent acquisition* would never had been found on a battlefield I'm usually met with a shrug.
I would never,under any circumstances, put down our vets or, as is mostly the case any more ,their memory in front of their offspring.
Buti it has had me wondering if the Germans even bothered to arm their enlisted personnel!
* I got this rifle from a vets family. I was told it was a Geman sniper rifle taken from the dead sniper!
JimComment
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