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    36 Reserve Inf Regt question


    E Williams

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    Ed,

    I am not quite sure what you are asking here. In the first instance a German company did not have an XO and Reserve Regiments did not exist in peacetime.

    Regards

    Glenn

    That is interesting, first, didn't know they didn't have XOs, who then would have been second in command in a company?

    I'm trying to get info on a luger that is a 1908 first issue unit marked, 36.R. Now if the 'R' was not in script, it would designate this unit as non-Reserve, in this case the 36th was by designation a Fusilier Regt but this unit mark is with a 'script' R and that, before the war designated the unit as a 'reserve' unit.

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    Ed,

    I can't comment on weapon marking but in the absence of the company commander, usually the senior platoon commander assumed command. A company second-in-command was not on the establishment.

    Regards

    Glenn

    Thanks.... higher command would have just been marked with an 'S' for Stabs but lower company command not. With a company inventory Luger marked number '2' would tell me, normally, it would have been second in command or maybe third in command with the CO having just the regiment and company marks. Not sure on that one myself.

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    With a company inventory Luger marked number '2' would tell me, normally, it would have been second in command or maybe third in command with the CO having just the regiment and company marks. Not sure on that one myself.

    Hi,

    I would not put too much stock in the number within the company.

    Best

    Chris

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    Yeah, but they are all in the company weapons room, what if in 1912 the commander of the 1st Platoon was promoted and took command of the company... would he switch Lugers?

    Silly Question, but mostly we see officers with Private purchase smaller calibre pistols... was it like this before the war as well?

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    Yeah, but they are all in the company weapons room, what if in 1912 the commander of the 1st Platoon was promoted and took command of the company... would he switch Lugers?

    Silly Question, but mostly we see officers with Private purchase smaller calibre pistols... was it like this before the war as well?

    Yes, he probably would because the old commander would not have taken the company Luger with him to his new assignment. Later on when they started getting killed, captured and the pistol too, then is when I wouldn't put much stock into assigned Lugers to assigned officers. Some were given a weapon allowance, like a uniform allowance also as they did in WWII, some were bought privately for a smaller caliber sidearm. This one being 1st issue and considering who and where, the armorer would have taken care of the officers first after he marked the first few Lugers. Rank had it's privileges, especially during those times and those armies.

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    Yes, he probably would because the old commander would not have taken the company Luger with him to his new assignment.

    Yeah, but my thoughts run more along the line of the Platoon commander has a number "5" and as it is all within the same company anway... he keeps that as company commander, and the old company commander is given to the new platoon commander.

    I imagine the number on a pistiol is of little interest to an officer... at the limit they can give him the one with the best bluing...

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    Maybe but one has to take into consideration how fast officer's were promoted and moved up the rank with that scenario. Even so, being first issue, a first name goes with it whether it be the 1st or 2nd platoon leader probably in 1909.

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    Yes I agree, Andy....IMO, based on the 1909 regulations regarding the stamping of Reich's material. Some pistol unit markings were changed from script 'R' to roman 'R' later. Although

    Continued with my research late into last night. When the army contract was signed in Dec 1908, it was for a contract of 50000/w some at first having only serial numbers and the suffice 'a'. and then 'b'. Of these 50,000, 25000 are considered 1st Issue made during 1909. Beginning in 1910, dates were put on the chambers. This one has the ser# of 94XXa. The first batch came with just a ser# and then the 'a' suffice was added and then 'b'. Of the 25000 considered 1st Issue, it's estimated that 25 % were given unit markings. I can only go with what research material I have but one thing I've found, almost all the information jive with each other. I have four books, one in German and when ever I need something translated, I wait for Heidi to visit. :D

    Of course the only way is to see what the armorer's issue book says as to who and what pistol is recorded and maybe individual marksmanship book, what you have provided is interesting. As with most everything connecting the dots, the close as you can come to adding 2 plus 2 and getting 4 is....3.

    But I have come upon confusing information that I will have to research further.

    Thanks Andy, I have some names now that could be a possibility of it's owner.

    Ed

    Request......would anyone have the marksmanship shooting book of Maj Fuchs or Maj Tietze? I know, asking too much. :D

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    I stand correct Glenn, my apologies...............

    The 36th Reserve Regiment was part of the 7th Reserve Div of the 4th Reserve Corps organized in............August 1914. I will have to do some further research with, hopefully someone that is way more "edjamakated" than I with detailed information about this Luger.

    Ed

    Edited by E Williams
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    I've been informed by one of the Luger experts, my quest for an officer's name to be attached to this Luger will probably still be a quest when I die....oh well, it occupied time while I wait for Monique to show with some French pastry. :D

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    Finally I asked a friend of mine. He is a weapon collector. He told me, that the pistols, after they were built, got stamped woith active AND reserve units. Even a reserve unit didn´t stil exist, the weapons with their stamps were already there.

    Then he told me, the number of that gun is not important. N° 1 is not for the leader, because all officers had their own private guns.

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    Finally I asked a friend of mine. He is a weapon collector. He told me, that the pistols, after they were built, got stamped woith active AND reserve units. Even a reserve unit didn´t stil exist, the weapons with their stamps were already there.

    Then he told me, the number of that gun is not important. N° 1 is not for the leader, because all officers had their own private guns.

    We might have the same weapons friend Andy, for I was told the same thing yesterday. I also found out that this particular Luger was probably unit marked in 1914 when this unit was mobilized. The marking regulations came out in 1909 and it states that all active and reserve units directives apply. Although reserve units did exist before 1914, the 36 Reserve unit did not. All this brought up another question, this Luger was made in 1909, where was the Luger for four years prior to this unit being mobilized? Questions questions questions!!!!!

    About the officer weapon and uniform allowance, most carried a 32 caliber of some maker or other but the idea, especially later on into the war, of a 9mm Luger vs a 32 cal Mauser 1914 for example, for stopping power, I'd grab the first available P08 I could find also.

    Researching this Luger and it's unit these past few days has become an eye opener. Age I guess or the over usage of Viagra has caused me to realize that my brain can no longer do multi-tasking. Reason being, I have also been researching the 36 Infantry Regt at the same time (reason why later) and sometimes the information on both have met in confusion and this sometimes comes into conflict what I learned months/years back too.

    What I was trying to establish was just wishful thinking, I know. Oh well, what does an aged old man as myself have besides dream and memories!!!! Glad he as friends to guide him along on the path of truth.........when his brain no longer functions well......brain only!!!! :whistle:

    Cheers mate!!!!

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