Semi-automatic Walther PPK pistol, holster, and magazines found at a concentration camp by a US military aid worker 1988.112.65_a front
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Washington, United States
Walther 7,65 semi-automatic pistol, leather holster, and two magazines found by Lt. Milton Shurr, a Jewish American soldier, at the recently liberated Buchenwald concentration camp in April-May 1945 in Germany. This pistol was never fired, but, lighter than a Luger, it was the type used by SS guards at the camp. First Lt. Shurr, Civil Affairs Unit, assisted in planning for D-Day, June 6, 1944. He landed on Omaha Beach soon after the invasion to organize supplies, then was placed with the 1st Army Displaced Persons Team. On April 11, 1945, the US Third Army liberated Buchenwald. Command of the camp was transferred to the 1st Army, which was responsible for establishing order, improving camp conditions, and caring for the inmates. Shurr worked 16 hour days trying to find food for 15,000 starving survivors. He later was sent to Bavaria as a health welfare officer to assist with the re-establishment of schools, hospitals, and other social services by the US Military occupation government. In 1949, he declined a permanent position and returned to the US.
Walther 7,65 semi-automatic pistol, leather holster, and two magazines found by Lt. Milton Shurr, a Jewish American soldier, at the recently liberated Buchenwald concentration camp in April-May 1945 in Germany. This pistol was never fired, but, lighter than a Luger, it was the type used by SS guards at the camp. First Lt. Shurr, Civil Affairs Unit, assisted in planning for D-Day, June 6, 1944. He landed on Omaha Beach soon after the invasion to organize supplies, then was placed with the 1st Army Displaced Persons Team. On April 11, 1945, the US Third Army liberated Buchenwald. Command of the camp was transferred to the 1st Army, which was responsible for establishing order, improving camp conditions, and caring for the inmates. Shurr worked 16 hour days trying to find food for 15,000 starving survivors. He later was sent to Bavaria as a health welfare officer to assist with the re-establishment of schools, hospitals, and other social services by the US Military occupation government. In 1949, he declined a permanent position and returned to the US.
- Title: Semi-automatic Walther PPK pistol, holster, and magazines found at a concentration camp by a US military aid worker 1988.112.65_a front
- Provenance: The pistol and accessories were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988 by Milton Shurr., The pistol and accessories were donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1988 by Milton Shurr.
- Subject Keywords: Ex-concentration camp inmates--Germany--Weimar (Thuringia)--Biography. Jewish soldiers--United States--Biography. Reconstruction (1939-1951)--Germany--Personal narratives, American. Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Germany--Weimar (Thuringia)--Personal narratives, American. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American., Ex-concentration camp inmates--Germany--Weimar (Thuringia)--Biography. Jewish soldiers--United States--Biography. Reconstruction (1939-1951)--Germany--Personal narratives, American. Soldiers--United States--Biography. World War, 1939-1945--Concentration camps--Liberation--Germany--Weimar (Thuringia)--Personal narratives, American. World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American.
- Type: Weapons, Weapons
- Rights: Permanent Collection, Permanent Collection
- External Link: See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, See the full record at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
- Medium: a. Heavy, semi-automatic, black colored steel framed pistol. The hollow, rectangular handle is angled forward and has a curved back, flat front and sides, and an open base with a textured, black plastic grip. The frame extends forward from the handle to support a cylindrical barrel with an open, circular muzzle. A slide with straight, flat sides covers the barrel, which is visible only on the right side through an oval ejection port. On the left side of the slide, a decocking safety lever slides upward to expose a red painted circle. There is a ridged panel near the back on both sides. The top of the slide is curved with front and rear sights mounted at either end of a textured, narrow, rectangular, flat metal plate attached on the top. The curved hammer is fixed at the top back of the frame. A small, thin, rectangular bracket is fixed on the barrel underside. The magazine release, a textured button, is set into the left side frame, just below the barrel. Mounted below the barrel is the curved, spring loaded trigger with a hinged, oval trigger guard. b. Stiff, triangular, black leather, belt holster for a Walther semi-automatic pistol (a) with a top slotted end and back side flap to enclose the deep, rectangular, hard pocket molded for the barrel. A hard, rectangular pocket for a spare magazine is sewn along the front side. The top flap extends up from the back and folds over to cover most of the body. Sewn at an angle along the lower back side is a curved triangular flap. This folds over the pocket and is covered by the top flap when closed. The triangle flap has a leather strap with a slotted end that fastens over a large, black colored, brass metal ball stud on the top flap. A wide leather rectangle with a narrow top loop is sewn to the center back. The upper interior is creased, light brown leather and the base of the pocket is lined with brown suede. c. Narrow, rectangular, angled, hollow, black painted, 6 bullet magazine for a semi-automatic pistol (a). It has flat back and sides with a flat top panel that angles down at the front end and sets inside the magazine. When the top is pushed down, it compresses a narrow gauge, wire spring inside, visible through 6 circular holes on both sides. There is a short front extension tab on the bottom. d. Narrow, rectangular, angled, hollow, black painted, 6 bullet magazine for a semi-automatic pistol (a). It has flat back and sides with a flat top panel that angles down at the front end and sets inside the magazine. When the top is pushed down, it compresses a narrow gauge, wire spring inside, visible through 6 circular holes on both sides. There is a short front extension tab on the bottom., a. Heavy, semi-automatic, black colored steel framed pistol. The hollow, rectangular handle is angled forward and has a curved back, flat front and sides, and an open base with a textured, black plastic grip. The frame extends forward from the handle to support a cylindrical barrel with an open, circular muzzle. A slide with straight, flat sides covers the barrel, which is visible only on the right side through an oval ejection port. On the left side of the slide, a decocking safety lever slides upward to expose a red painted circle. There is a ridged panel near the back on both sides. The top of the slide is curved with front and rear sights mounted at either end of a textured, narrow, rectangular, flat metal plate attached on the top. The curved hammer is fixed at the top back of the frame. A small, thin, rectangular bracket is fixed on the barrel underside. The magazine release, a textured button, is set into the left side frame, just below the barrel. Mounted below the barrel is the curved, spring loaded trigger with a hinged, oval trigger guard. b. Stiff, triangular, black leather, belt holster for a Walther semi-automatic pistol (a) with a top slotted end and back side flap to enclose the deep, rectangular, hard pocket molded for the barrel. A hard, rectangular pocket for a spare magazine is sewn along the front side. The top flap extends up from the back and folds over to cover most of the body. Sewn at an angle along the lower back side is a curved triangular flap. This folds over the pocket and is covered by the top flap when closed. The triangle flap has a leather strap with a slotted end that fastens over a large, black colored, brass metal ball stud on the top flap. A wide leather rectangle with a narrow top loop is sewn to the center back. The upper interior is creased, light brown leather and the base of the pocket is lined with brown suede. c. Narrow, rectangular, angled, hollow, black painted, 6 bullet magazine for a semi-automatic pistol (a). It has flat back and sides with a flat top panel that angles down at the front end and sets inside the magazine. When the top is pushed down, it compresses a narrow gauge, wire spring inside, visible through 6 circular holes on both sides. There is a short front extension tab on the bottom. d. Narrow, rectangular, angled, hollow, black painted, 6 bullet magazine for a semi-automatic pistol (a). It has flat back and sides with a flat top panel that angles down at the front end and sets inside the magazine. When the top is pushed down, it compresses a narrow gauge, wire spring inside, visible through 6 circular holes on both sides. There is a short front extension tab on the bottom.
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