1913 ERFURT, SERIAL NUMBER 8835, DETAILS AND G.S.M.G.36. BATTLE HISTORY
1913 ERFURT, SN 8835, DETAILS AND G.S.M.G.36. BATTLE HISTORY
Erfurt Lugers were manufactured from 1910 to 1918 by the Prussian Government owned Erfurt Arms Factory for the Imperial German Army.
During 1913 Erfurt manufactured 23,000 Lugers. These are reported in the 501 to 2563b serial range. The first production was manufactured without hold open or stock lug. Later the stock lug and hold open were included. All have military style (exposed) serial number placement and inspection stamps on all parts except springs.
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Figure 1. 1913 Erfurt, serial number 8835. All Erfurt’s bear military style serial number placement (exposed) and Crown/Gothic letter acceptance stamps on all parts (except springs). This Luger was manufactured without a stock lug. The side plate is an unnumbered armorers replacement and the grip screws lack acceptance stamps.
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Figure 2. Top of 1913 Erfurt, serial number 8835. The barrel and top of the receiver have been partly restored.
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Figure 3. 1913 Erfurt, serial number 8835. Right side details. According to a May 6,1913 directive all P08's in service without a hold open were to have the hold open retrofitted. This was accomplished by Erfurt. A small crown/Gothic letter indicates a hold open was retrofitting to this Luger. The end of the pin placed to retain the hold open is properly in the white.
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Figure 4. Front of frame and bottom of barrel of 1913 Erfurt, serial number 8835. The halo around the barrel gauge has been eliminated during the restoration process.
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Figure 5. The grips bear the crown/Gothic letter acceptance stamp and the last two digits of the Lugers serial number, 35.
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Figure 6. Front of 1913 Erfurt, serial number 8835. 1913 Erfurt’s were predominately unit marked to machine gun units.
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Figure 7. Details of unit marking. G.S.M.G.36. signifies: Garde Schützen Bataillon Machinen-Gewehr Kompagnie Waffe Nr. 36. Note: the haloes around the letters and digits of the unit stamp.
Fifteen years ago, when Imperial Lugers was published, three Garde Schützen Bataillon Machinen-Gewehr Kompagnie marked Lugers (numbers 29, 61, and 76) were reported (see Imperial Lugers page 120 and 147-148). Two were buried in collections and another was in the Imperial War Museum. All had the peculiar characteristic of a large sized last digit in the weapons number. As this is one of the elite World War I Garde units, I have watched intently for the last 15 years for another to become available. Finally one came up on Simpson’s list (several months ago) and I pounced on it. Although partly restored (barrel and part of receiver), I was most pleased to add this rare Garde Machine Gun unit marked Luger to my collection.
Below are the 4 Garde Schützen-Bataillon,Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie marked Lugers reported to date:
* 1913 ERFURT, s/n 6185 : G.S.M.G.29. - (Garde Schützen-Bataillon,Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 29)
* 1913 ERFURT, s/n 8835 : G.S.M.G.36. - (Garde Schützen-Bataillon,Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 36)
* 1913 ERFURT, s/n 5912 : G.S.M.G.61. - (Garde Schützen-Bataillon, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 61)
* 1913 ERFURT, s/n 9451: G.S.M.G.76. - (Garde Schützen-Bataillon, Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 76)
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Figure 8. Historic- tradition information on the Garde Schützen Bataillon, from “Ruhmeshalle unsere alten Armee”. It was founded in 19.5. 1814. Its garrison was Berlin/Lichterfelde. Battles as far back as 1815 are listed.
The history of this unit, History of the Garde Schützen Bataillons 1914-1918, was compiled and written by surviving members after the War and published in 1928. Klaus Schad has this history and based his presentation on page 120 of Imperial Lugers on it.
The following information/history is based on Klaus Schad’s presentation in Imperial Lugers and on the Histories of 251 Divisions of the German Army Which Participated in the War 1914-1918. The Garde Schützen Bataillon was part of the Garde Corps, 2nd Garde Division and 3rd Garde Infantry Brigade. At mobilization in 1914 the Battilion consisted of:
4 Schützen Kompagnies (Riflemen comp.)
1 Radfahrer Kompagnie (Bicycle comp.)
1 Machinengewehr Kompagnie (Machine gun comp.)
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Figure 9. Garde Schutzen Luger resting on the Honor Book of The Prussian Garde in Weltkrieg, 1914-1919. The Garde Star is at the top of the book title. Battles of this unit are described in this book.
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Figure 10. Machine Gun unit battling in Northern France during 1914. The Machine Gunners are P08 armed.
During August and early September 1914 the G.S. Bataillon battled through Belgium and Northern France toward Paris hammering the Belgium, British and French forces before them. The French attacked at the Marne, held and forced the German Armies back. During this retreat the Garde Schützen Bataillon Machine Gun Company was annihilated, (along with other units) at the battle of Orly. Oberleutnant Freiherr von Freyberg retreated with only 100 men (from the 1st, 3rd, and Machine Gun Companies) to the Marne. Machine Gun Company leader Capt. Von Radowitz was shot through both legs. On Sept.12 Major von Gelieu made a speech to the remainder of his battailon, 213 left of 1250. (Schad, 1991)
The Garde Schützen Bataillon Machine Gun Company battled on both the Western and Eastern Fronts during World War I with honors and distinction. The Second Garde Division that it was part of was rated as a first class assault Division.
Campaign: Both Western and Eastern Fronts.
1914/15 & early 1916: France: Dinant, Mons, St. Quenten, Soissons,Pr.Morin, Breise, Champagne, ober-Elsass, Metzeral, and Hartmannsweilerkopf. Transport to the East.
1916/17 Paralowo, Monastir, Mazedonien, Ochridasee, and Dudica
1918: Transport to the Western Front.
1918: France, Lothringen
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Figure 11. Garde Schutzen M.G. Luger resting on an illustration of a machine gun unit battling on the Western Front during 1918. (Honor Book of The Prussian Garde in Weltkrieg, 1914-1919).
Side note: From the Garde Schutzen battalion (3. Company) Captain Willi Rohr emerged to form the famous Sturm Bataillon Rohr.