Unknown Merkel

[mike ford]

At that time in history, they had everything stolen from them, even after their lives were stolen, the gold from their teeth was stolen and their skin was made into lampshades.This was considerably worse than losing contraband firearms.
Mike

[rtenenbown]

Thank you for the clarification.. I misinterpreted the statement in the worst possible way. I apologize.

[chapmen]

At that time in history, they had everything stolen from them, even after their lives were stolen, the gold from their teeth was stolen and their skin was made into lampshades.This was considerably worse than losing contraband firearms.
Mike

This has nothing to do with each other.
Or does this gave the right do steal even?
There are some things in history that are for the USA not nice, even if you dont want to hear this.
So what about the around 190.000 violation cases in germany from US Army members?
Thats ok, because germans done this also?
Thats an very deep double moralty.
Once more: i am some generations after this, i am not quilty for the things hapened.
But i live in an generation that want to know the truth, on every side.
Not only the germans had some big spots on their clean slate.

If you stand to your history, whats about:

Canicattì -Juli 1943
Biscari- Juli und August 1943

Simon Harrison: Skull Trophies of the Pacific War: transgressive objects to remembrance. In: Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute. (N.S) 12 2006, S. 818.
James J. Weingartner: Trophies of War: U.S. Troops and Mutilation of Japanese War Dead, 1941–1945. In: Pacifical Historical Review. 1992, S. 59

Mỹ Lai 1968


I think we all have not the right to throw the first stone......but we have the right to say what the truth is.

[mike ford]

I didn't throw the first stone, and am not interested in continuing a running battle with another member of the GGCA(assuming you are a member,I don't know).The truth is, the War Trophy Firearms were not stolen property, they were contraband destined for destruction, and possesion of which by a German citizen could result in death, at the time.
Mike

[chapmen]

The truth is, the War Trophy Firearms were not stolen property, they were contraband destined for destruction, and possesion of which by a German citizen could result in death, at the time.
Mike

So this also belongs to firearms that were "rescued" from museums and state collections?
Sometimes the truth is hard.

[chapmen]

not interested in continuing a running battle with another member of the GGCA(assuming you are a member,I don't know)
Mike

To be an GGCA member or not changes nothing about my opinion in historical questions.

[Axel E]

Any large army, be it German, US or Soviet, cosists of heroes and cowards, gentlemen and crooks, blind order obedients and thinking men, plus anything in between. Men may change their position here from one day to another, depending on circumstances and opportunities.
I agree with Mike: I have no problems with obviously once privately owned guns that were contraband indeed. I have slight problems with antique guns in the USA that still have a tag or registration number of a museum or other public collection attached.
Sometimes I get questions regarding "Schuetzen memorabilia" like trophies or Schuetzen king chains, including the pendants intended for such chains. Such items were neither forbidden armament nor privately owned. Instead, they were property of clubs, communities, towns or cities. So they could not legally bought or bartered. They must have been stolen or embezzled by someone, either by a German who sold it or by the GI who brought it home as a war trophy. Under continental European law no one can ever achieve ownership of a once stolen item. So I usually deny to delve into the history of such items.
BTW, may I remind you about the case of the Quedlinburg Cathedral Treasure
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theft_...om_Quedlinburg
US Army First Lieutenant Joe Tom Meador (1916 – 1980) stole many items of the treasure in 1945 and shipped them to his hometown Whitewright, Texas. The trove only started to resurface in 1987, when the Meador family tried to sell the famous 8th century Samuhel Gospels, an illuminated manuscript, at international auction. Germany then paid several million $$$ to return the stolen goods to the rightful owner, the Quedlinburg church.

[Diz]

Gentlemen, war is hell no matter where or when it occurs and often the aftermath is even worse. That is the truth in my opinion. Thanks, Diz