MGA9

[joerookery]

I'm having a mental block here. Who are these guys? All of my references say that there were 8 Prussian Abteilung (Guard, 1 to 7) and one Saxon unit, Nr 8. I have a photo montage (attached) that is dated 1909-1911 from Colmar that shows Machinengewehr 9.

Festungs-Maschinengewehr-Abteilung Nr.9-- If it were a Festungs Maschinengewehr-Abteilung I think it would have the word Festungs on the montage. The Festungs Maschinengewehr-Abteilung soldiers wore Infantry uniforms, not the Maschinengewehr-Abteilung.

Where am I messing up? Thanks in advance!

[David Gregory]

I'm having a mental block here. Who are these guys? All of my references say that there were 8 Prussian Abteilung (Guard, 1 to 7) and one Saxon unit, Nr 8. I have a photo montage (attached) that is dated 1909-1911 from Colmar that shows Machinengewehr 9.

Festungs-Maschinengewehr-Abteilung Nr.9-- If it were a Festungs Maschinengewehr-Abteilung I think it would have the word Festungs on the montage. The Festungs Maschinengewehr-Abteilung soldiers wore Infantry uniforms, not the Maschinengewehr-Abteilung.

Where am I messing up? Thanks in advance!

Joe,

I think the date is a little misleading and probably refers to the former period of active service of the men shown in the picture.

If I recall correctly, Festungs-Maschinengewehr-Abteilungen, Nr.9 being raised in Strassburg, were formally established in 1913, which is probably the regular unit the men were affiliated with as reservists. The picture probably shows the name of the unit when they served with it, hence the confusion.

David