On April 26, 1946, the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued JCS Directive 1067/14 to General Eisenhower instructing that he "preserve from destruction and take under your control records, plans, books, documents, papers, files and scientific, industrial and other information and data belonging to German organizations engaged in military research"; and that, excepting war-criminals, German scientists be detained for intelligence purposes as required.

The major military force in Southern Germany at the close of the war was the Third Army under General George S. Patton Jr. who in addition to being an open critic of the Soviets foresaw the occupation of Eastern Europe by the Soviets.  The Soviets had directed their armies into Berlin in the north so Patton simply kept the Third Army moving into the Suhl region.

Operational Directive No. 101 was received from Headquarters XII Corps at 5:30 a.m. on April 4, 1945, designating the limit of Corps Eastern advance as a Gotha-Suhl line. The 4th Armored Division on the North was directed to seize and hold Gotha and Ohrdruf. The 26th Infantry Division assignment was a separate zone between the 4th and 11th Armored Divisions for clearance. The Thunderbolts were ordered to hold Suhl and Oberhof, and thereafter to patrol to the East as far as a line from Grafenroda to Gehren. The Division was also ordered to clear the enemy from its zone West of the Oberhof-Suhl line and protect Corps right flank East of Fulda. The Division therefore was stopped short of its original objective and found its offensive mission had been substantially completed.

 63rd Armored Infantry Battalion (CCA) on April 3rd, 1945 attacked Suhl where the Germans were said to have fought back hard with anti-tank, bazooka, small arms, and mortar fire.  Nazi party and city officials had fled Suhl, leaving the city to be defended by a hastily organized Volkssturm (or home guard) of old men and teenage boys.  Suhl quickly fell to the Americans who captured a quantity of ammunition and equipment plus five military hospitals containing 600 wounded German soldiers. CCA had planned its own operation, this being to open a direct lateral route to the bulk of the Division. This plan was approved at Division Headquarters with the exception that the forces were not to proceed further North of Benhausen where contact with elements of CC R was directed. CC A continued its clearance of Suhl while cavalry and tank destroyer elements patrolled the Division South flank. The majority of resistance was met on the outskirts of the town where small arms fire was met in considerable volume. Volkssturm sniping troops, in civilian clothes and with no distinguishing armbands, delayed the action to some extent.

Into all this chaos of war was the discovery of the true prizes of the war. It is reported that with the capture of Suhl, Zella-Mehlis, and several surrounding smaller Thuringia towns, one of the largest munitions industry prizes of the war fell to the 11th Armored Thunderbolts. Included among them was the famed Krieghoff and Walther Arms Works. A capitulation of the arms, armament parts, and materiel seized in the area included: Pistols, P38—1,600; 7.65mm— 4,600; Signal—598; 22 cal.—325. Sniper rifles and scopes complete—2,210; scopes incomplete—4,420; rifles partly assembled—1,140; 113 lathes, 97 milling machines, 41 drill presses, nine punch presses, two hydraulic presses, and 40 grinders. At least 500 new type enemy carbines and 2,500 Burp guns with sufficient parts for an additional 5,000 were uncovered at Suhl. Over a million rounds of small arms ammunition were included. This material was found in several large plants and over 50 small, decentralized plants. In addition to weapons, several of these factories produced parts of robot aircraft.

With the arrival of the Americans there was a respite before the Soviets would swing south and take over the entire Thuringia area, capture the remaining works and disassemble the plants equipment and ship everything of value to the Soviet Union. They then blew up the factories.  The higher command quickly recognized the skill of the Krieghoff family, manufacturer of the Luftwaffe machine guns, and the FG 42 "paratrooper rifle 42" (German: Fallschirmjägergewehr 42) and other innovative weapons.

So from all the facts we know it fell to Sergeant Butterfield to assist the Krieghoff family from the zone about to be turned over to the Soviets.  Apparently his job was well done and appreciated because Heinrich Krieghoff  commissioned this one of one presentation 1945 Krieghoff to Butterfield in the waning days of 1945 prior to the US evacuation of the weapons experts and families to the U.S. Zone.    

Above the side plate of the Parabellum is engraved with the presentation inscription to Frank Butterfield. Above Right; the extractor is in the "Loaded" GELADEN position indicating both visually and tactilely that the Luger is loaded.

Under the barrel is the Krieghoff Eagle 2 wartime proof, obviously  inspected by the Luftwaffe inspector. Krieghoff early post-war style of numbering did not include the barrel but did have the barrel gauge and Eagle 2 proof.  There is a 'v' notch rear sight on the rear link and a full bladed inverted 'v' sight on the front. The magazine is an early extruded silver sleeved side Arrow marked "Haenel SchmeisserPatent" proof; a very rare magazine in itself. The bottom of this presentation magazine is unmarked (standard practice).

In 1934 the Luftwaffe announced it was seeking bids for military pistols.  It is assumed that Krieghoff had acquired the old Erfurt Luger tooling from Simpson to enable it to contract for only 10,000 Lugers in 9mm.  The chamber date places the assembly as an example of the original military contract.

Production commenced in the Suhl plant in 1934 and by the end of 1937 the 10,000 gun contract was completed. This completed the "Early" military contract of which this Luger is a member. While there are very few examples known of the "G" chamber marked date (less than 50 believed produced) they are believed to be the 1934-5 production. The "S" dated chambers were begun in 1935, followed by the "36" and then the full "1936", hereafter the full year dates were used.

The end of the war freed many foreign craftsmen who had either sought work through their trade experience or were pressed into labor forces to perform the robotic functions of the assembly line.  These people once freed, were homeless and jobless in a defeated country that couldn't provide for themselves.  The gypsies went back to being gypsies and others stole whatever was available to enable a trip back home.  Sergeant Butterfield duties probably had to deal with that threat to the now-empty factories set with expensive weapons making machinery.

As characteristic of the early contract Lugers, the polishing prior to bluing of these pistols was excellent and superior to the other manufacturer's processes. These contract pistols were salt blued in a bath of 300°F, which produced the uniform premium blue appearance.

Details, details, details.  The fine grip screw and beautifully carved grips give testament to the time, effort and craftsmanship of the engraver.  This was not laser-etched or cut with a precision machine but the work of someone who hand carved the metal and perfectly replicated the pattern on each side.

Krieghoff used four distinct grips. The early walnut grips that appears on the 1935-1936 models were not the same as the DWM or Simson grips but Krieghoff grips had an almost slab configuration and the diamonds were  more course. The appearance of the brown plastic grip started in the mid "S" range and were a fine diamond design and manufactured by Hermann Ritzmann & Sohne and bore an 8964 stamp on the obverse.  These were phased out in 1937 for a more courser diamond grip through 1939 when the black grips were introduced for the 1940  production.  Wood grips were for extraordinary presentation Parabellums.

The inside of this Krieghoff is immaculate as this presentation Parabellum does not appear to have ever been fired or holstered. It has been preserved in this pristine condition to give the owner a real glimpse of the past craftsmanship of the Krieghoff personnel.

The rear toggle is marked with the Eagle 2 and #7 while the wood grips are numbered 07. The charging knobs have the slight mortise that is only found on the Krieghoff.

No detail too small to escape notice, the side rails are carved with a scrolling decoration on both side, even the locking lever gets an oak leaf.   Look down at the top of the Parabellum one cannot be impressed by the details expressed by the engraver.  Truly a well documented one of a kind piece.