For Research The Machine gun Sharp Shooter Badge

[dond]

By late 1915 the Germans and Allies both realized the war would not be over quickly. Each side started to develop strategies for the conduct of a long war. The Allies, whom had the burden of ejecting the Germans from the occupied parts of the continent opted for massive artillery investments. The Germans, with their limited manpower and material shortages settled on the machine gun. Both sides had learned that keeping masses of troops in the front line only led to heavy casualties. They had also learned that one machine gun, properly sited and well supplied with ammo, could stop a whole battalion of attacking infantry in their tracks. So even as the Allies prepared to blast the Germans in a hailstorm of high explosive and shrapnel fires, the Germans realized that if even only a few machine guns survived they were sufficient to hold off the Allies and prevent a breakthrough until a counter attack could be organized. So the Germans designed a defense in depth with a thin crust on the front line and defensive belts in support of them. What started out as Machine Gun Sharp Shooter Detachments (MSSA) would eventually be built up to battalion sized units assigned to the different Army Corps and doled out to the front line Divisions as required. From concrete dugouts and hidden emplacements in the 2-3 defensive lines they would poor a withering fire into the massed infantry attacks. Indeed, if you read unit histories from the period, both German and Allied, the common soldiers all talked about the massive artillery bombardments (drumfire as the Germans on the receiving end called it) and the chattering of the machine guns as the attacks were launched. For the Allied troops, this machine gun fire was more defining towards their personal experience as they watched whole platoons bowled over by single guns.

To make this concept work, the Germans drew combat proven soldiers from the front line troops and sent them to school to master their craft, the employment of the guns. The exact subjects covered has been lost to time but can be surmised based upon what armies teach today, operating the gun, reducing stoppages, traversing fire, plunging fire, grazing fire, interlocking fields of fire etc....

To denote these troops as specialists they were awarded a specialty badge. It consists of an MG08 mounted on the period sled and surrounded by a stylized ammunition belt. Under this was a field gray cloth oval that allowed the badge to be sewn to the sleeve. This was held in place by a backing plate thru which ran tabs from the reverse of the badge and were then bent over. There were several period makers of these badges including Juncker, Falkenburg Richter, Carl Leberg, Mayer&Wilhelm etc... Construction techniques were typical of the period as we shall see.

Edited February 25, 2013 by dond

[Chris Boonzaier]

I am jealous already.......

[dond]

We will start with the Juncker firm. Juncker had a long history of supplying military equipment and insignia to the German Army. That makes it a logical start point for us as we can find other Juncker items with the same construction characteristics as the MG badge. First let's look at a Kaiser preis (shooting award) made by the firm. Note the construction on the reverse, thin pointed pins and the maker mark.

[dond]

And now a MG badge. Same thin, pointy pins and mark.

[dond]

Juncker badges are easy to spot on period photos due to the thickened left front leg (the viewers right) on the sled. The initial badge submitted for approval had a thin leg in that place and was subject to breaking, possibly when the badge was bend to form a convex shape for wearing on the arm. The tabs also got larger and less refined, perhaps due to the use of unskilled labor or just the elimination of extra manufacturing steps due to the need to pump them out by the thousands.

[dond]

And then you have some that display a conglomerate of these methods.

[dond]

And then we have this one, clearly a Juncker by the traits on the badge, yet the backing plate is missing. It is attached to the grey oval with the thin pointy pins.

[dond]

Next up is Falkenburg Richter of Coblenz. You can find many of these badges in the US, and in minty/unworn condition. I believe it is because the American Army occupied Coblenz after the war. Note the distinctive design and reverse set up on these. About have the time on these you will find the backing plate on backwards.

[dond]

And with the plate reversed. So much for the vaunted German attention to detail.

[dond]

A few more examples.

[dond]

Carl Leburg and W. Mayer & F. Wilhelm are harder to find.

[dond]

Mayer.

[dond]

More frustration are the unmarked badges. They meet the same construction standards as the marked badges but do not match the design on them. Who were these makers?

[dond]

And then you have some made post war out of brass. You can see many postcards of Freicorps and early Weimar era soldiers wearing the badge. Notice the backing plate has been modified to allow the badge to be easily removed from the uniform.

Edited February 25, 2013 by dond

[dond]

Then there are the little things that allow good machine gunners need to accessarize.

[dond]

Lastly is the cloth version, reportedly for naval forces. I'd love to see one in wear on a period photo.

[Chris Boonzaier]

Some very nice goodies indeed!!!

Kai wrinckler had navy ones a number of years ago... where they just like this one?

Best

Chris

[Chris Boonzaier]

I traded my only one away about 10 years ago.... but soon I will make the jump and buy one ;-)

[Hoss]

1

[Hoss]

The best reproduction ever made produced 27yrs ago in limited numbers..

Regards

Eric

[dond]

Hi Eric, Who made that repro in your last post?

[Ralph A]

Impressive Don. Gents, I've had the honor of seeing some of this collection in person. A treat I'll not soon forget.

[Chris Boonzaier]

DUH !!!!!!!!

For the first time I realised that the oval is supposed to be a belt of bullets!!!

I must have been blind all these years....

[Dave Danner]

Can't remember if I posted this before. An example in wear.

[Hoss]

Hi Eric, Who made that repro in your last post?

Hello Don

Made back when we were very strict on authenticity for historical events, had backing plates but when they showed up the dealer did something to the rear so they couldn't be sold as original, two types this is one. I purchased two this is the only one I've left (m15 tunic) the other broke up on my m10 rolling around or snagged on wire Lol!

Best

Eric

ps I didn't know you had THAT many holy smoke, beautiful.