help for company designation

[The Prussian]

Hello!

I got this photo today. It?s a sad one. But I don?t know the designation at the cross on the right.

I see R.I.R.81 and M.G.K.24

Well, Reserve-Infanterie-Regiment 81. That?s clear. M.G.K.: Maschinengewehrkompanie. Clear.

But the 24?

No regiment had 24 MG companies... and as far as I know, the RIR 81 didn?t have any MG- company.

Any ideas, please?

By the way: The F18 upon the upper arm means "Fernsprech-Abteilung XVIII.Armee-Korps" (In this case XVIII reserve Korps - so the writer signed on the back of this card.)

Thanx a lot in advance!

Edited April 29, 2009 by The Prussian

[Naxos]

I don't know about the RIR81, but RIR93 had four MGK - a Regiment's MGK and each Batl. had a MGK as well.

[The Prussian]

Yes, that?right, but that doesn?t explain the number 24... Maybe it?a the number of MG companies, if all companies of a corps were counted??? :rolleyes:

Edited April 29, 2009 by The Prussian

[Guest Rick Research]

There were "independent" machine gun companies that were assigned (and usually swallowed up by) normal units, in the course of expanding the machine gun troops. I can't explain the numbering, but dim memory sugests these early independent units simply got assigned randomly to other units and then disappeared.

[The Prussian]

Hi Rick!

Thanx for your response!

I?ve heard something about those units, but in the Busche (Geschichte der dt. Infanterie), I can?t find a 24. There were several independent units listed, but not the 24. Maybe the list ain?t complete.

[The Prussian]

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