Original German WWI & WWII P08 USGI Bring Back Luger Leather Holster with Inlaid War Merit Cross – dated 1918 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is very interesting example of a standard issue leather hardshell P-08 holster, which was used by Imperial German forces during WWI, and then reissued for WWII. However its history does not end there, as it was brought back by a USGI after the war was over, and had a German War Merit Cross inlaid into the lid. Additionally, the holster is marked on the underside of the lid with a WWI depot marking, which looks to be Bavarian:  BAYBII / 1918.

In 1916 an order came for holsters to be changed to black, but this holster was definitely made in brown originally. We have seen Bavarian issue holsters before that were made at the end of the war in brown. As the Kingdom was semi independent, it had its own supply channels. At some point after that however, it was dyed black, most likely when it was put back into service during the WWII Period.

The overall condition of the holster is very good, with supple leather and intact heavy stitching, original loops, loading tool compartment, and pistol ejection strap. The original flap securing strap and buckle are present and in functional condition. Both belt loops are intact and complete. We do not see any real signs of repair or alteration, other than the inlaid war merit cross.

A really nice holster that saw service during TWO world wars, ready to go with any WWII Era P08 Luger pistol. Ready to display or use!

The Pistole Parabellum—or Parabellum-Pistole (Pistol Parabellum), commonly known as just Luger—is a toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol which was produced in several models and by several nations from 1898 to 1948. The design was first patented by Georg Luger as an improvement upon the Borchardt Automatic Pistol and was produced as the Parabellum Automatic Pistol, Borchardt-Luger System by the German arms manufacturer Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM). The first production model was known as the Modell 1900 Parabellum. Followed by the “Marinepistole 1904” for the Imperial German Navy. The later versions included the popular “Parabellum Pistole Modell von 1908” or simply “P08” (Pistole 1908) which was produced by DWM and other manufacturers such as W+F Bern, Krieghoff, Simson, Mauser, and Vickers. The first Parabellum pistol was adopted by the Swiss army in May 1900. 1904 they were adopted by the German Navy. In German Army service, it was adopted in slightly modified form as the Pistole Modell 1908 (Pistole 08) in caliber 9×19mm Parabellum. The Model 08 was eventually succeeded by the Walther P38.

The Luger is well known from its use by Germans during World War I and World War II, along with the interwar Weimar Republic and the postwar East German Volkspolizei. The P.08 was introduced in 7.65mm Parabellum, though it is notable for being the pistol for which the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge was developed, also known as the 9×19mm Luger. The pistol has been used in fictional works by many villainous characters over the past several decades because of its association with AH’s Germany.

The War Merit Cross (Kriegsverdienstkreuz) was a decoration of NSDAP Germany during the Second World War, which could be awarded to military personnel and civilians alike. By the end of the war it was issued in four degrees, and had a related civil decoration. It was created by Adolf in October 1939 as a successor to the non-combatant Iron Cross which was used in earlier wars. The award was graded the same as the Iron Cross: War Merit Cross Second Class, War Merit Cross First Class, and Knights Cross of the War Merit Cross. The award had two variants: with swords given to soldiers for exceptional service “not in direct connection with combat”, and without swords for meritorious service to civilians in “furtherance of the war effort”. As with the Iron Cross, Recipients had to have the lower grade of the award before getting the next level.