Lithuanian Military Contract
Contract: Lithuania - Lithuanian Military
Serial Numbers: 70 - 6500 special order contract numbers
Size of Contract: 7000 pistols
Contract Accessories: None
Special Markings: "Pillars of Gediminas" crest on the slide and lanyard staple
Contract Year: 1937
These unique and historically interesting Hi Power's were marked with the "Pillars of Gediminas" on the top of the slide. Additionally, this pistol has a fixed lanyard staple. This contract order from Lithuania resulted in around 7000 pistols being delivered to the port of Klaipeda in 1937 for use in the Lithuanian army. Well, that is until WW2 came around!
Lithuania, at the time of WW2, was a nation stuck between two rapidly growing tumors. The souls residing within Lithuania's arbitrary boarders suffered greatly for this. Cancerous and parasitic, the two advancing tumors were the nations of the Soviet Union and Germany. Both nations were playing tug - a - war for territory and Lithuania was a piece of the rope. The Soviet Union invaded and occupied Lithuania in 1940. The results were catastrophic. For example, in four days between June 14 and June 18 of 1941 alone some 40 000 people from educated families were exiled to Siberia and Soviet labor camps (almost half of them 16-year-old or younger, 556 infants under 1 year, families typically separated), most never to return alive. Not many areas of land have experienced the level of turmoil that the nation of Lithuania had during this time
Shorty after, the Germans invaded, pushing the Soviets out. Although this was a relief at first for the people of Lithuania, the Germans soon turned their sights on the Jewish population, wiping out almost 88%. Then once again, in 1944, the Soviets regained occupancy of Lithuania until 1990.
So lets get this all straight...
The Hi Power shown above was initially used by a Lithuanian soldier from 1937 to 1940. The metal masterpiece was then confiscated by a Soviet solder after the Soviet invasion and used in combat until a Nazi soldier ripped it from his cold dead hands after the Germans invaded. Then, in 1944, the Red Army grabbed it back when they re-invaded the territory. If only a gun could talk!
Pillars of Gediminas
500 yard Tangent Sights, shoulder-stock slide
Unique Lanyard Staple
Thumbprint slide
Lithuanian Contract High Power
Cited:
1. FN Browning Pistols, By Anthony Vanderlinden
2. http://www.truelithuania.com/topics/history-and-politics-of-lithuania/history-of-lithuania