WW2 “Sweetheart Grips” Surprisingly Few People Know About Them

The personalization of equipment goes back for centuries. The Greeks often had to supply their own armor so they usually added ridged elements that simulated having a six pack or had images of fearsome beasts on their chest.

There’s nothing the sculpted body armor does better or worse than regular ancient protective equipment except for looking nicer, providing a status symbol like that one guy in the modern military unit that shows up with fancy under armor, and maybe offering a more comfortable fit.

1911 Closeup of pistol handle w. photo of girlfriend of Lt. John Ernser, 26, leader of the US infantry engaged in attacks of German fortification positions at the Italian front
1911 Closeup of pistol handle w. photo of girlfriend of Lt. John Ernser, 26, leader of the US infantry engaged in attacks of German fortification positions at the Italian front

 

Credit: Vettepartz
Credit: Vettepartz

I met a friend that bought a Byzantine grenade (which used Greek fire) similar to this item, and it had some letters carved into it.

Civil War soldiers disobeyed regulations to emblazon flags and drums with the names of battles and campaigns. Most soldiers individualized their muskets or rifles.

That could include full names, initials, stars, unit names and symbols, or anything of personal significance. This practice increased moral by personalizing equipment, and created an attachment to impersonal objects.  It could also aid in the identification of dead soldiers before the invention or widespread use of dog tags.

Credit: Vettepartz
Credit: Vettepartz

 

Credit: Vettepartz
Credit: Vettepartz

 

Credit: Vettepartz
Credit: Vettepartz

 

Credit: Vettepartz
Credit: Vettepartz

Airmen and soldiers have decorated the nose of their bombers and fighters and scrawled their initials into their canteen. World War I soldiers named the biggest artillery pieces after women.

 

Personally, I taped my equipment in a particular pattern for easy identification. It wasn’t permanent and it was easier to see from far away and when my gear was in a pile.

Credit: Vettepartz
Credit: Vettepartz

Ever since cameras were invented, servicemen and women have tucked away precious pictures of their loved ones. Pictures end up tucked under helmets, stuffed in pockets, in cigarette cases, bibles – there’s always a way to keep your nearest and dearest close to you. If  you didn’t have a loved one – there were always pin up girls.

Many of the grips were made from pieces of broken plastic windows from bombers.
Many of the grips were made from pieces of broken plastic windows from bombers.

World War II soldiers took advantage of a recent invention called Plexiglas. The clear but firm and waterproof material was invented in 1928 in several different laboratories by many chemists such as William Chalmers, Otto Röhm and Walter Bauer and was first brought to market in 1933 by the Rohm and Haas Company under the trademark Plexiglas.

During WWII, soldiers were known to take precious family photos (and Pinup Girl photos) and put them under clear grips on their 1911 pistols – called Sweetheart Grips
During WWII, soldiers were known to take precious family photos (and Pinup Girl photos) and put them under clear grips on their 1911 pistols – called Sweetheart Grips

Its lightweight and malleability made it useful for everything from plane windows, vehicles, gun turrets, canopies, and anything that needed glass actually.

Mike wrote: My dad was a medic in the South Pacific during WWII. He brought back an 8mm Nambu with sweetheart grips. The old photos aren’t in great shape, as you can see.

Credit: mikegc
Credit: mikegc

 

Credit: mikegc
Credit: mikegc

 

Credit: mikegc
Credit: mikegc

Infantry soldiers & airman took Plexiglas from downed planes and carved out grips  for their Colt 1911s for example and also for their revolvers.   After putting in pictures of their loved ones or favorite pin up girl this form of personalisation earned the name “Sweet heart grips.”

Sweetheart grips are an interesting piece of WWII history. And surprisingly few people seem to know about them. However, if you look closely, you will see Brad Pitt carrying a “sweetheart” gripped revolver in the movie Fury.

Morgan Deane

Morgan Deane is one of the authors writing for WAR HISTORY ONLINE