German Soldier with a Browning Hi-Power tucked in his belt on the East side of the Elbe River bridge near Tangermünde Germany - May 1945


German Soldier with a Browning Hi-Power tucked in his belt on the East side of the Elbe River bridge near Tangermünde Germany - May 1945

This Soldier wears the Infantry assault badge with rifle, black wound badge with helmet, and the ribbon in buttonhole Iron Cross 2nd Class.

The Browning Hi-Power (Original designation P-35) was a hi-capacity 9mm pistol manufactured by Fabrique Nationale (FN) in Herstal, Belgium, production began in 1935.

After Belgium was occupied by German forces during WW2, the FN Factory resumed production for the Wehrmacht under the designation "9mm Pistole 640(b)" after uncooperative managers were replaced by staff sent from Germany.

Hi-Power pistols were also produced in Canada for Allied use by the John Inglis & Company in Toronto. The plans had been sent from FN to the UK when it became clear the Belgian plant would fall into German hands.

A popular pistol on both sides during the war, post WW2 the Hi-Power would be adopted by over 50 countries as their official sidearm with FN ceasing production in 2018. On January 18, 2022, after a four year hiatus, FN announced they would resume production of the Browning Hi-Power with a number of upgraded features.

LIFE Magazine Archives - William Vandivert Photographer

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