During WWII (after the Spanish Civil War) the Germans were running out of sidearms.
Franco of Spain was friendly with Germany; he agreed to sell Germany the Astra Model 600, a 9mm Parabellum copy of their 9mm Largo Astra 400. When D-Day happened Spain was no longer able to ship the guns through France to Germany.
After WWII Germany petitioned the Allied Occupation Commission to allow their Police to carry sidearms and long arms. Spain said hey we have these...9mm pistols; and then sold them to Germany a
second time! Those smart Spaniards!
