WWII bring-home Walter PP

I thought some might find this interesting.

A couple years ago I was gifted the Walther PP that my grandfather brought home at the end of World War II. He took it off a dead Nazi officer at Nuremberg.

It is a commercial gun, circa 1938. It was most likely owned by the officer that was carrying it, rather than being issued.

I also have the original holster and one correct magazine (with the Walther banner but no caliber markings), as well as the paperwork authorizing my grandfather to bring it home when he returned after the war. There was also a Sauer & Sohn 38H magazine that had been battlefield-modified to work in the PP.

I also have a couple of Nazi iron crosses that he brought home, both missing the ribbons. The one on the left is from WWI, and the one on the right is from WWII.

My grandfather was a tank destroyer driver in the 610th Tank Destroyer Battalion under Gen. Patton.

https://tankdestroyer.net/units/battalions600s/205-610th-tank-destroyer-battalion

 

Incredible! I love reading accounts like this, lots of extremely valuable history here. Also, I got a kick out of this: "...if such items are to be mailed to the US...". Freedom back in the day!

Thank you for sharing, this really made my day!

Dan

 

Always interested in anything WW2 related. I've spent a considerable amount of time in my life reading and studying the subject. Most people these days have no clue as to how it affected the entire world.

 

Thats awesome!! I love the history of WWII. Sad that those men that fought that war and the sacrifices they gave for this country are being forgotten by this new generation. They were true hero’s and we’ll never see real men like them again. I can’t even begin to imagine what some of them went through. My grandfather was also a WWII vet. I never met him because he died before I was born. I have a couple of his uniform shirts that I absolutely cherish. Unfortunately, his medals and other items he saved were lost after my grandmother (his wife) died about ten years ago.

 

Thank you very much for sharing with us!

 

I took up reading about WWII about 10-15 years ago and have dozens of historical books in my book case (a few of WWI there also, helps to understand the lead up to WWII). I re-read these on a somewhat regular basis to revisit the subject(s).

Our family moved to Japan in 1958 (only 13 years after the end of the war) and lived there for 4 years. The period right after surrender and up to the end of the occupation is of paramount importance to me having seen first hand the state of affairs of the Japanese culture and way of life up close and personal. We first lived in Kobe for 2 years and there was still some war damage, especially at the aircraft factory my Dad worked at (Shin Meiwa). Living there was a fascinating part of my life (I was 9-13 years old).

Dan

 

Very cool! I love the history of stuff like this.

 

Those who served should NEVER be forgotten! My dad was in the army but was never deployed at the end of WW II. Thank you for this thread, it should make everyone stop and think how great our country is and how lucky we are to live here.