A Walther P38 is only seen in one scene, when Goeth has to dig up and then burn the bodies from the liquidation of the Krakow ghetto. One of his men feigns madness and fires into the mass of burning corpses.
The Luger P08 appears to be the sidearm of choice in this film. All executions by pistol are done with Lugers. The Lugers used had to be flashpaper guns, and were likely retained in later scenes for continuity reasons.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingLuger P08 9x19mm.File:SL P08 1.jpgAn SS Corporal executes an ailing woman with a Luger.Error creating thumbnail: File missingGoeth attempts to shoot the rabbi for inefficiency. The pistol misfires at first, and then Goeth removes and checks the magazine, pulls back on the toggle bolt (ejecting a round) and tries to fire again, with the same result. Barring an act from God, there's probably something wrong with the firing pin (as speculated by Goeth's men.)Error creating thumbnail: File missingGoeth executes one of twenty-five men to warn against future escape attempts. Notice the weird muzzle-flash, indicating that these are probably flash paper guns.
During the scene where Goeth tries to execute Rabbi Lewartow for not making enough hinges, his Luger keeps misfiring. Goeth takes out a CZ 27, which will not fire either. He has to settle for pistol whipping the rabbi with the CZ 27.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingCzech CZ27 - 7.65mmError creating thumbnail: File missingGoeth pulls a CZ27 pistol from his pocket after his Luger misfires. It's surprising that a concentration camp commander would feel the need to have a backup pistol.Error creating thumbnail: File missingGoeth is frustrated that his backup pistol won't finish the job either. He repeatedly racks the slide, but as no rounds are ejected. Though during production, the pistol was probably just unloaded, in reality, having bent feed lips (perhaps by dropped the loaded magazine) will keep rounds in the magazine but not let the first one ride high enough to be picked up by the bolt face. This is a common problem with damaged magazines. Since Goeth would not make a novice mistake of not noticing that his own pistol is unloaded, "Failure to feed due to deformation of the feed lips" is probably what was being portrayed in the film.
Unknown revolver
In a quick editing mistake, the CZ27 is exchanged for a large revolver. Goeth drops it on the pavement when he walks away. This pistol is much too big to have come out of Goeth's pocket.
