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LOT 310
Historic Factory Presentation Engraved German Walther PP Semi-Automatic Pistol Decorated with SS Insignia and “HF” Monogram, Attributed to SS General Hermann Fegelein - Serial no. 806660, 7.65 mm auto cal., 3 3/4 inch round bbl., nickel finish, plastic grips. This 1933 production factory engraved Walther PP exhibits a set of “crown/N” proofmarks, the early 90 degree safety, and the standard Walther two-line factory markings that consist of “Walther” inside a banner next to “Waffenfabrik Walther, Zella-Mehlis (Thur.)/Walther’s Patent Cal. 7,65 m/m” next to “Mod. PP”. Excluding some blued small parts, the pistol is finished in nickel for both an eye catching bright appearance and a strong resistance to corrosion, a unique, seldom encountered special order feature on Walther’s pistols. It features nearly full coverage exhibition presentation semi-relief Walther factory engraving, with dense punch-backed oak leaf motifs, zig-zag and punch dot borders, checkerboard panels on the trigger guard and butt, and other details. On the back strap, set into a deeply relief engraved oval panel, is the monogram “HF”. Other examples of similar factory engraved presentation Walther PP and PPK pistols tied to noted high ranking SS individuals are pictured in “Walther Volume II” by James L. Rankin.
The raised relief engraved monogram initials “HF” on the back strap are attributed as being specially made for Hermann Fegelein (October 30th, 1906-April 28th, 1945), a General of the German Waffen SS. According to information supplied by the consignor, this special Walther PP was acquired by U.S. Army colonel Michael Dizdar (January 1st, 1905-January 14th, 1995), the current consignor’s uncle who they inherited this pistol from, that likely brought it home as a war trophy from Europe at the end of World War II. Unfortunately, the story behind when, where and how this pistol was liberated has been lost to history. This pistol is accompanied by a copy of a newspaper obituary of Michael Dizdar, indicating he received a master’s degree from the University of Denver, was a resident of Hattiesburg, Louisiana since 1956, a retired colonel of the U.S. Army reserve, and was a bacteriologist at Puckett Laboratory for 23 years. Information related to his military service is sparse, but a Record of U.S. Army’s European Theater of Operations dated January 15th, 1944 was located in which Michael Dizdar is listed, under the rank of captain, as stationed overseas at a port in Northern Ireland as part of the medical section, in which a large amount of personnel were stationed for training prior to the D-Day Normandy landings of June 6th, 1944; lending to a strong possibility Michael Dizdar may have partaken. Obergruppenfuhrer Hermann Fegelein was a respected member of Adolf Hitler’s entourage, and a brother-in-law to Eva Braun through his marriage to her sister, Gretl Braun. Hermann Fegelein died on April 28th, 1945, one day shy of becoming brother-in-law to Adolf Hitler himself through Hitler’s marriage to Eva Braun a day later on April 29th, 1945.
General Hermann Fegelein
GENERAL HERMANN FEGELEIN IS STANDING TO THE RIGHT OF HERMANN GOERING
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