Thompson Submachine Gun

The weapon linked to controversial wartime allegations against a decorated officer.

According to historical records, the Thompson submachine gun is specifically linked to Lieutenant Ronald C. Speirs during a single documented incident involving six German prisoners of war.

Lore & Background

In January 1945, after the capture of Foy, an allegation arose that Lieutenant Ronald C. Speirs used a Thompson submachine gun in the execution of six German prisoners of war. This event was not confirmed as fact by military investigation but remained a persistent story decades later. In an interview with Pennsylvania state representative John D. Payne, Colonel Richard Winters stated that he asked Speirs about the rumor due to legal concerns from publisher Simon & Schuster regarding potential lawsuits.

Winters reported that Speirs wrote a letter admitting to the act. Despite this admission, Winters noted that he and Colonel Sink decided to ignore the letter because they recognized the pressing need to retain qualified combat leaders like Speirs. Winters concluded that while such actions would result in court-martial and war crime charges in today's army, officers of that era who were not afraid to engage the enemy were considered too valuable to lose.