rare PPK

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nbanders

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It was suggested that I move this to the milsurp forum, so here it is.
I was looking for a pre 1946 PPK to use as a shooter that I would be able to pass to my kids as a 12.7. This came up and I got it in trade.

Waltherleft_zps359d45a6.jpg


P1000250_zps70461d38.jpg


It looked kind of different, having the serial number on the slide as well as the frame. I thought I would do a little research on it and posted the information on an American Walther forum. This is one of the first replies I got:

I have great news for you. When you get your new PPK, you will find the serial number on the slide. That is because you fortunately have purchased one of the "lost" RSHA PPKs that had been provided to Einsatzgruppe C. This gun is listed in the procurement listing that was according to the documentation in the national archives, almost 1000 guns that had been distributed through the Grenzpolizei School in Pretzsch. But no accounting of this distribution was made and forwarded to the RSHA arsenal. In 1943 as request was made of Einsatzgruppe C to account for the guns distributed to their men. A small list of several dozen guns (not including this one) were all that could be accounted for. Most of these PPK serial numbes and names are included in the RSHA/SS Pistols Red Book by Marschall and Gortz and its subsequent reprint as the Black Book by Stepan.

Here is the header of the documentation from the National Archives document showing a portion of the original listing of the pistols that was included in the inquiry in 1943.Your pistol is listed in the second image, in the second group from the bottom.

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/z...psbc5f4649.jpg

Here is the section of the letter listing your pistol in a specific range of weapons provided to that Einsatzgruppe.

http://i813.photobucket.com/albums/z...psa727b924.jpg
Congratulations, you have an extraordinarily rare pistol.

This was followed by several more post, with documentation from the Germans during the war trying to account for these pistols.

The right side grip has a chip out of it, I was just going to slap a spare set I have on it and use it as a shooter. Not sure what I will do with it. If you goggle Einsatzgruppe, these guys where the worst of the SS. I know firearms are inanimate objects, but everytime I handle it knowing where it spent the war, it quite frankly creeps me out.

Here a photobucket links to some of the documentation sent by the guys down south. Hope you German is better than mine.

Einsatzgruppe_C_1b_zpsaf345b13.jpg


Einsatzgruppe_C_2b_zps2c7f46ca.jpg


RSHAPPKstoLublin2_zpsf810538f.jpg


My gun's serial number falls in the middle document in the second from the bottom line.
 
We often say "If only they could talk". I'm kinda glad this one can't. God knows where it's been and what's been done with it.

If it hasn't been shot much, one could hope it sat in the holster of some functionary for its years in service.
 
Wow this is exceptional.... To be able to track the history of a milsurp piece is one thing, but this specific history adds another dimension.. Thanks for sharing.
 
Yikes! Just read about the Einsatzgruppen too! From the descriptions and the videos I saw, I really doubt the pistol you own had a desk job through the war. It's like owning Darth Vadar's lightsabre...who knows how many people it has killed?
If it was mine, I would douse it with holy water ( and I'm not the least bit religious!!), keep all the papers with it and lock it in a bank vault, never to see the light of day again! Before you stick it away, tell your kids about the atrocities of all wars. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Historically, your PPK is priceless but morally, it is creepy!!
 
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Still alive said:
Yikes! Just read about the Einsatzgruppen too! From the descriptions and the videos I saw, I really doubt the pistol you own had a desk job through the war. It's like owning Darth Vadar's lightsabre...who knows how many people it has killed?
If it was mine, I would douse it with holy water ( and I'm not the least bit religious!!), keep all the papers with it and lock it in a bank vault, never to see the light of day again! Before you stick it away, tell your kids about the atrocities of all wars. Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.
Historically, your PPK is priceless but morally, it is creepy!!
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You got that right. I'll take it to the range to test shoot it then probably try and trade it off for something without the bad juju.
 
For those of you that thing ethnic cleansing doesn't happen recently then you need to wake up. Look up a list of ethnic cleansings and they are still happening to this very day (Burma, some parts of India etc.).

It is neat that you are able to trace exactly who used it and unfortunately what it was used for. But guns are neutral as are all tools, some get used for bad things others good. Its up to the owner/user to determine the future of a item as you can't change the past of one. I personally would pass it down to ensure that knowledge isn't lost but it is your call.
 
No way I could keep something like that. Too much "baggage" on that one. I know genocide still happens but to be able to trace one of the tools most likely used is pretty disturbing. My 2 cents only
 
All milsurps have baggage. Even an 88mm Cannon.

rob bishop said:
No way I could keep something like that. Too much "baggage" on that one. I know genocide still happens but to be able to trace one of the tools most likely used is pretty disturbing. My 2 cents only
Click to expand...
 
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