U.S. Carbines in Germany and Austria

U.S. M1 Carbine
in
Austria

The Gendarmerie: Burgenland













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Burgenland Lower Austria Steiermark Upper Austria
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In 1958 the population of the Austrian state of Burgenland was 279,700. Burgenland is 3965.56 sq. kilometers (2464 sq miles). The capitol of Burgenland is Eisenstadt.

In 1958 the Gendarmerie of Burgenland was headquartered in Eisenstadt with regional commands in:

  • Eisenstadt (200 personnel in 27 posts)
  • Mattersburg (206 personnel in 27 posts)
  • Oberwart (267 personnel in 38 posts)
    • [Almanach der österreichischen Bundesgendarmerie, 1958]

    LGK B. U.S. M1 Carbines

    LGK. B.

    Landes Gendarmerie Kommando Burgenland

    The few U.S. M1 Carbines with the markings of Burgenland that have been observed, so far, are owned by citizens in Germany. Other than an adjustable rear sight and rotary safety, they appear to have been unaltered by the Austrian Gendarmerie. Several of these carbines have Bavaria police markings in addition to the Austrian markings on the trigger housing. It does not appear the Austrians in Burgenland placed any parts of the serial number or inventory number on any of the parts. Where numbers have been present, the carbines had been used by Bavaria prior.

    Several of these carbines have had the front sight "wings" removed, leaving only the upright center post. This may have been done by owners after the carbine left Austria. This has been observed on a number of carbines still in Germany that are owned by citizens. During the latter half of the 20th Century the M1 Carbines in Germany could not be owned unless they had been sporterized (see Germany, Alterations).

    The highest inventory number observed has been LGK B. 0719. Given the number of Gendarmerie personnel assigned to Burgenland in 1958 (673) and allowing for command personnel that would not have been armed with carbines, the inventory numbers probably don't go much higher. These are the rarest of the U.S. M1 Carbines used by the Austrian Gendarmerie.