These two pistols, a 7.65 Sauer and a 9mm 1913 DWM P-08 were taken from Col. Gen. Johannes Blaskowitz and his driver as they entered the hotel de Wereld in Wageningen Holland on May 5th 1945, to sign the formal surrender of the Germany army in the Netherlands to the Canadians.

These two pistols remained with the family of the Canadian provost corp veteran until 2002 when they were taken to an 'Antiques roadshow Canada' taping and purchased by the owner of a gun shop, who has since passed.The Luger is all matching with wood based mag and is believed to have been the drivers as in pictures he can be seen wearing a larger holster..

Enjoy!

2

very nice and terrific provenance..

Very nice. It's great to know the story behind them.

This vet also at one time had Blaskowitz's identity documents and dagger..over the years, the I.D. was lost and the dagger went to a relative who has disappeared off the face of the earth..!..I have tried searching, to no avail, for the past 15 years..

He actually came into them by accident as he was in the front doorway when the General and his party arrived, and was waiting at the rear door for their exit.The General decided to go back out the front door, and their items were never returned, and thus passed into collector history!.

These pistols will have to be de-activated to be owned in Canada, as they are both considered prohibited..the family of the former gunshop owner are looking to turn them into the police!!


Yikes!..

Can't you sell them to someone here in the US?
We can still have guns that shoot (at least for now!).

Chief

They have never been registered as far as I know, and only someone who possesses a prohib license in Canada can buy or sell these.

As pistols, they are nice, but nothing 'rare', however as historical items, these may have to be deactivated to be put on display, as I believe they are a significant part of Canada's military history..

We shall see...