Serial Number 5289, 26-inch barrels. Manufactured approximately 1933. Chambered in 16 gauge and 7.8x 57 cartridge. William Muchler & Sons German Drilling or Combination Gun. Shotgun bores choked full & full. Blue with case hardened frame & trigger guard. Greener style cross bolt. Barrel marked “WILH. MUCHLER, SOHNE, GEWEHRFABRIK” / NEUENRADE I. W.” Two-piece, finely checkered walnut stock and forearm with cheek rest. Composite butt plate. Adjustable triggers. German proofed barrels dated 11-1933. Small blade front and “pop-up” rear rifle sights. Sling provisions mounted to barrel and butt stock. This most interesting firearm was once the property of World War II Major General Friedrich Christiansen, serving as the Commander of German occupied Netherlands. Christiansen was overtly captured by a young American OSS Officer, named Rolf B. Rosenthal along with his team and his team on April 7, 1945. Rolf “liberated” this William Muchler drilling bringing it to America at the close of the war. It has remained in the Rosenthal family until being offered in this sale. Following is Rolf’s story as told by his son, Reid Rosenthal: As relayed to me by my father: Rolf B Rosenthal was spirited out of Nazi Germany to America by his parents in 1938 at the age of 14. He could not speak English, but made the transit to St Louis, where here sided with paternal Uncle. His younger sister was smuggled out of Nazi Germany months after Rolf, and Rolf's parents, Ludwig and Meta escaped to Switzerland, hiding, walking and hopping trains for three months, and then to America in late 1939. Rolf's grandfather, though a highly decorated WW I German officer, refused to leave, believing his former military service would keep him safe. He was killed along with his wife at Auschwitz in late 1940. Rolf performed odd jobs while learning English and helped his uncle, Bernard for wages of $2.50 per week, also attending school when his mastery of English progressed. When America entered the war days after Pearl harbor , Rolf tried to enlist. He was initially rejected as too young. He enlisted on June 4, 1942 the day of his eighteenth birthday, originally setting his sights on serving in the Pacific Theatre. However, at the recruiting station, the Sergeant recognized his thick accent, and after intense questioning, brought Rolf across the street, to the fledgling and secretive OSS offices--precursor to today's CIA. Rolf spent two days being rigorously tested and interrogated, and then was accepted into the OSS where he was paired with four other German Jewish immigrants and given four months of specialized training in intelligence, hand to hand combat, subterfuge, and spy craft. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant and his tiny band of brothers were flown to England. From that base of operations,they were parachuted, or sometimes dropped by submarine at various points across Nazi controlled territories. Dressed as German soldiers and officers--and therefor subject to summary execution if captured--their mission was (many times in close concert with French, Italian, or Northern European Undergrounds), to kidnap and bring back across the English Channel various high ranking German officers for interrogation. During the course of the next few years, three of the team were killed. Their last mission, just prior to VE Day was to kidnap/capture Friedrick Christiansen, Chief Military Commander in the Netherlands. Though history books have Wehrmachtbefehishaber Christiansen being "arrested" prior to the end of the war, it was in fact Rolf and the remaining member of his team who captured the General on April 7,1945, spiriting him to Allied lines with the assistance of the Dutch Resistance, eager for revenge for Christiansen's atrocities against Danish citizens and Resistance fighters. Christiansen was formally arrested for War Crimes in July, 1945, taken out of military prison and convicted. This weapon, (very rare--built for and issued to high ranking--Major and above--German Luftwaffe officers), was Christiansen's personal defense weapon, having received it from Field Marshal Rommel at Hitler's personal request. Christiansen in fact, according to Rolf, attempted to reach and use the weapon when Rolf and his OSS team mate broke stealthily into Christiansen's quarters after silently killing the two SS officers guarding the premises. CONDITION: Excellent with 80-90% bright original blue remaining on the barrel. Traces of original case coloring on the frame. Bores are bright & clean. Action is tight & operates correctly. A couple of non-structural stress cracks locked at the stock wrist. Wood is otherwise sound showing only moderate wear. Overall, a most desirable artifact of World War II history. C&R
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