LETTER TO MR. R.W. KOCH ESQ. FROM { }

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00380R000200090039-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2006
• Sequence Number: 39
• Publication Date: December 18, 1972
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2006/09/25 : CIA-RDP75B0038OR000200090039-3
Imperial War Museum
Lambeth Road
London
SE 1 611 Z
R W Koch Esq
EXH/MJW/JF
Thank you for your recent letter concerning the 'Liberator' pistol which was produced
during the Second World War for use by Resistance groups in occupied Europe.
Partly because of the clandestine nature of this weapon, references to it in our records
are sketchy to say the least. However, I have consulted a number of colleagues, not
only on the staff of the Museum but also at the Royal Military College of Science at
Shrivenham and can provide you with a little background information which might help
you in your research.
It is believed that these pistols were indeed air-dropped to Resistance groups during the
war, not only in France but also in the Philippines. I understand that some 50, 000 were
brought over to England for this purpose, but they were never dropped in the numbers
originally envisaged. One reason for this was that both the Free French and, I gather,
the Vichy Government, objected strongly to the wide distribution of these unorthodox
weapons, feeling that they might be difficult to collect or control after the war and would
be potentially dangerous in the hands of political malcontents. In the event, they were
dropped in limited numbers to selected groups, although we do not know how many were
distributed.
It has also been suggested that, because the unrifled barrel caused the bullet to tumble
on impact, the wounds inflicted would be contrary to the terms of the Geneva Convention
and this too influenced the Allies in scaling-down their original plans. Moreover, the
production of the Sten Gun had reached sufficient proportions by 1943 to enable the Allies
to drop this latter weapon in reasonable quantities to the Resistance groups.
The surplus 'Liberator' pistols were mostly de-activated and dumped in the sea. Some
specimens have survived and, although they are uncommon, they are not rare. We have
several examples in our collections.
I have yet to see a specimen in France and two French friends of mine, who both know
sometl~j-aieedtFld~r~~~Q0~1tli~nF@~r9~~lPpb$@~RQ~@@~i4ent, had never
even heard of the weapon