A very, very rare photo!!!

[The Prussian]

Friends!

A dream has come true! This is the best day in this year!!!!

A photo of two soldiers of the 2.Garde-MG-Abt., wearing the Kaiserpreis for prussian MG-Abt.!

This badge was awarded only six times in ten years (from 1903-1913 every two years)

The 2.Garde-MG-Abt. awarded it in 1911.

 

[Chris Boonzaier]

I have never ever seem one of those!!

[The Prussian]

Like me, mate! I knew those badges did exist, but  I´ve seen only drawings.

This is the first one.

By the way, I also have saxon one (for saxon MG-Abt.). This might  be a little bit more rare than the prussian one...

1.sächs.MG-Abt. Nr.12

[Chris Boonzaier]

DonD wants one, he just does not know it yet!

[The Prussian]

Oh oh... 

Not for sale 

 

[Deruelle]

Hi,

 

It's the first time for me I see such cross on photo, and more particulary for the Saxon Army

Christophe

[Eric Stahlhut]

what a great find! you now posess photographic evidence of an award that very few people have actually seen. how very exciting! congratulations are in order

[The Prussian]

Thanks a lot, Eric!

 

Edited June 10, 2016 by The Prussian

[dond]

19 hours ago, Chris Boonzaier said:

DonD wants one, he just does not know it yet!

I didn't even know I wanted one until now.

[ccj]

Superb photos with great detail. I had no idea about that rare award.

[dante]

Wow!!!

[The Prussian]

Thanks a lot, mates!

Here we see, how rare those awardings were

[Paul R]

Did the entire unit receive the award, or a single individual?

[The Prussian]

Hello Paul! These badges were recieved by the entire unit.

I think the mentioned saxon companies (1 and 2) were wrong. I assume, they mean Abteilungen.

The saxon Abteilungen had a strength of 88 men. There would be no sense to build companies inside that small unit!

In 1911 the 1st Abteilung was dissolved for building new MG-companies for the infantry regiments. The 2nd Abteilung became MG-Abteilung 19, but in 1915 it became the 13.comp. of Inf.Rgt.107

The difference between a company and an Abteilung was not a big thing.

The strength of an MG-Kompanie was 4 officers and 95 NCOs and men

The strength of an MG-Abteilung was 4 officers and 112 NCOs and men