Rare ‘Nazi gun’ found in pensioner’s chimney
A rare, fully loaded pre-war pistol later adapted for the use of Nazi Germany has been found in a pensioner’s old chimney in northeast Poland.
The 72-year-old man in the small town of Górowo Iławeckie, 90km east of Elbląg, had been cleaning out his attic when he stumbled upon the pistol in his chimney’s smokehouse.
Identified by police as a 7.65 mm Sauer & Sohn pistol, the firearm is considered rare among collectors.
A standard issue German police semi-automatic, the weapon dating back to 1913 was fully loaded and was found lying under thick layers of soot.
A police spokesman said: “The man told the policemen that he had found it while cleaning the attic, more precisely in a smokehouse in the chimney that had not been used for years. The gun lay under a layer of soot.
The gun was found under layers of soot.
“Officers determined that it was a Sauer brand pistol. Initial pyrotechnic reconnaissance indicated that the weapon was loaded and had a magazine attached, possibly with ammunition.
“The gun is heavily corroded and its serial numbers cannot be read.
The Sauer Model 1913 was standard issue for prewar German police forces and was revolutionary as it could be fired without the magazine in place.
“This type of weapon was being produced in Germany before World War II.
Later identified by police as a 7.65 mm Sauer & Sohn pistol, the firearm is considered rare among collectors.
Redesigned in 1938 as a Sauer 38H pistol, the weapon was presented to Nazi officials and often featured custom engraving, ivory grips, and gold inlay.
Founded in 1751, the oldest firearms manufacturing firm in Germany produced high quality handguns, the revolutionary technology of which set the standard for many of today’s handguns.
Redesigned in 1938 as a Sauer 38H pistol, the weapon was presented to Nazi officials and often featured custom engraving, ivory grips, and gold inlay.
The highest-ranking officer in the Waffen-SS to use the gun, Sepp Dietrich was responsible for the Malmedy massacre which saw 84 American POWs gunned to death at close range.
In September 2004, a Sauer 38H belonging to Nazi monster Sepp Dietrich sold at auction for $43,125.00.
The highest-ranking officer in the Waffen-SS, Dietrich was responsible for the Malmedy massacre which saw 84 American POWs gunned to death at close range.
Later released from prison, he became active in the HIAG group set up by former high-ranking Waffen-SS personnel to achieve legal, economic and historical rehabilitation for its former members.
Later released from prison, he became active in the HIAG group set up by former high-ranking Waffen-SS personnel to achieve legal, economic and historical rehabilitation for its former members.
The find in Northern Poland is just the latest in a string of WWII weapons found in people’s homes.
In December last year, police were left baffled after two identical weapons and ammo were found hidden inside two grannies’ pieces of furniture 22km apart.
