What condition did the World War II German officers carry their sidearms?

From what I've read, they were carried chamber unloaded. Especially the Lugers.

I've read contradictory accounts, often depending on whether or not they were in garrison or at the front. In some cases they carried loaded with an empty chamber (in garrison) or loaded with a rd in the chamber and hammer down ready for a DA shot (if a P38 and if at the front) or loaded, rd in the chamber and safe (Luger, at the front). Looking at the table of contents for German WWII pistol manuals shows that there's a variety of carry methods.

https://www.germanmanuals.com/rifles-pistols.html

Bedingung zwei.

4v50 Gary said:

Thanks Browning. Too bad those pages on carrying weren't selected for viewing.

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Yeah, I was kind of hoping they'd have the whole thing in a PDF. That at least gives you a rough idea though.

[QUOTE[Bedingung zwei.][/QUOTE]
I agree condition two

I had heard that for the manual of arms in Germany the pistol was not intended for fighting, it was a symbol of authority, really only suitable for executing prisoners and shooting yourself in the head when everything goes wrong... and therefore had no need for instantaneous readiness.

Bwana John said:

I had heard that for the manual of arms in Germany the pistol was not intended for fighting, it was a symbol of authority, really only suitable for executing prisoners and shooting yourself in the head when everything goes wrong... and therefore had no need for instantaneous readiness.

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I think you hit the nail on the head.

WIth the P38, and the other DA Walthers,round in the chamber and decocked makes the most sense. I know where most of them ended up- in piles and in GI duffel bags!

Just remember that not all handguns were issued to officers. Machinegunners carried pistols for example.

I was in the Royal Signals, between 1954 and 1956, in Germany BAOR. Walking with another Squaddie, at night, late. A man in just a shirt, no jacket came up some steps, out of a Restaurant. Closely followed by a uniformed Police Officer. They both dodged around us.

AS the Officer drew his pistol, he called once "Halt" just once. Racked the slide, aimed and fired once, hit him in the leg. Holstered in his shiny flap holster, and started walking towards the squirming man, lying on the ground. His advice to us, in perfect English "You Soldiers need to not be here" We heeded that advice, went the other way. What kind of Pistol? No idea was not into guns then. But it was loud.

FL-NC said:

WIth the P38, and the other DA Walthers,round in the chamber and decocked makes the most sense. I know where most of them ended up- in piles and in GI duffel bags!

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Well .... yeah.

Bwana John said:

I had heard that for the manual of arms in Germany the pistol was not intended for fighting, it was a symbol of authority, really only suitable for executing prisoners and shooting yourself in the head when everything goes wrong... and therefore had no need for instantaneous readiness.

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For officers above the rank of Lieutenant, yes.

Non-coms, tank crews, machine gunners and other specialized troops were all issued pistols though and those were actually used.

I guess when you're subject to Russian wave attacks you'll pick up just about anything that shoots and pop it off in their direction.