Machine gun department

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Machine gun departments are historical troop units of the infantry of the German Army of the German Empire , which were equipped with machine guns from 1901 and were typically assigned to the infantry or the hunters , later also the cavalry . After 1908, the designation machine gun department was only used for those units that were intended to work with the cavalry. The units that were to be used with the infantry were given the designation machine gun company and were subordinate to the infantry regiments or the independent hunter battalions (including the Guard Rifle Battalion ).

List of machine gun departments / companies

Until the outbreak of the First World War

Driver from the saddle of a Prussian machine gun division (before 1914)

In 1889 the Prussian War Ministry approved the introduction of machine guns and the formation of the corresponding troops after a troop attempt at the 1st Battalion of the 146 Infantry Regiment in Königsberg. The first 5 machine gun departments were set up in Prussia in 1901. By 1904 a further 8 Prussian and an additional 1 Bavarian and 2 Saxon MG departments were set up. The 16 MG divisions now available were units assigned to the infantry , but should also be able to work together with the cavalry . For this reason - to increase mobility and march control - the machine-guns, the entourage and the machine-gun operators were transported mounted, i.e. driven. In 1906 troop tests were carried out, in which the machine guns and the ammunition were driven, but the operators of the machine guns, who had hitherto been mounted, marched on foot. This was supposed to improve the integration of the machine gun divisions into the infantry marching columns. All other new MG departments were set up from then on as mobile units.

In 1908, the significantly improved MG 08 was introduced to the troops. At the same time, the training machine gun company was set up at the infantry shooting school . The expansion of the machine gun formations was massively promoted until 1911. Each infantry brigade was assigned an MG department and henceforth referred to as the Machine Gun Company (MGK) . By 1913, more machine-gun companies were set up, so that now every infantry regiment and every independent hunter battalion (with the exception of the two Bavarian ones) had an machine-gun company. There were thus 233 MG companies available in the infantry. The 16 mounted MG divisions were reduced to 11; they were to be assigned to the 11 cavalry divisions to be set up in the event of mobilization (in peacetime only the Guard Cavalry Division was active). In addition, 15 regiments stationed in fortresses were each assigned 1 fortress machine gun company ; these were equipped with older MG 01 and MG 03 that had become available at other associations by equipping them with MG 08 and did not have their own means of transport. In total, Germany had 4,919 MG 08 at the beginning of the First World War .

During the First World War

Defensive battle of Machine Gun Division II of Infantry Regiment No. 4 "Hoch- und Deutschmeister" at the level of Gora Sokal on the Bug, July 20, 1915 (painting by Karl Friedrich Gsur )

For mobilization in 1914, 348 machine gun companies / divisions were under arms. The following troop units were each assigned to an MG company / division at the beginning of the war :

11 moving MG divisions:

  • in all 11 cavalry divisions (including 1 Bavarian and 1 Saxon)

322 foot movable companies:

  • in all 218 infantry regiments
  • at 88 (92?) of the 113 reserve infantry regiments
  • in 16 of the 18 independent hunter battalions (not in the two Bavarian ones)

15 immovable companies

  • in fortresses

In addition, there were 43 MG platoons that were assigned to mobilized replacement battalions.

21 (25?) Reserve Infantry Regients, all 75 Landwehr infantry regiments and the 18 Reserve Jäger battalions initially received no machine-gun companies at the beginning of the war. These were only set up and brought into the field after the start of the war.

In addition, during the first 12 months of the war, 568 (38 of them Bavarian) independent field machine gun platoons were set up as mobile reserves for the division commanders. From September 1916 these were combined into companies with the inclusion of a further 354 (including 6 Bavarian) machine gun supplementary trains , for which the now superfluous fortress machine gun companies were also used. Each infantry regiment received two more machine-gun companies, which (like the infantry battalions within the regiment) as I., II. And III. MG company were designated. Each hunter battalion received a second machine gun company.

By September 1916, these companies were subordinated to the infantry battalions and gradually reinforced from 6 to 12 machine guns (3 platoons of 4 MG). When, after the heavy losses in the spring of 1918, the infantry battalions had to be reduced from 4 to 3 rifle companies, the machine-gun companies were integrated into the battalions as 4th, 8th and 12th companies of a regiment ).

Between mid-February and mid-May 1916, a total of 200 (including Bavarian) machine gun sniper squads were formed in the army high command , but by the end of August each of them were grouped into three company-strong machine gun sniper divisions . These later grew to 83 departments, which were assigned by the Supreme Army Command (OHL).

For the Alpine Corps , initially 10, later even 43 company-strong mountain machine gun departments were set up. After a short time, 18 of them were renamed companies and merged into 6 battalion-strong mountain machine gun units.

In November 1916 the Panzer-Kraftwagen-Machinegewehr-Section "No. 1" was set up and used with its off-road armored vehicles for fighting gangs in the Ukraine and for the advance on the Caucasus. 1917/18 another 10 trains of 2 armored cars each were used set up.

On August 1, 1917, 25 anti-aircraft machine gun detachments , each consisting of 3 companies with 12 MG each, were set up on the western front to defend against aircraft . There were also 103 independent trains.

Since in the course of the war a large part of the cavalry had to serve in the trenches and were reclassified into cavalry rifle divisions . Accordingly, the number of cavalry divisions was reduced to 4. Therefore only 4 of the original MG divisions remained; the other 7 were converted into machine gun companies. However, from October 1916, all cavalry regiments received a machine gun squadron with 6 MG each. With the regiments still mounted, the machine-gun crews were transported mounted.

At the end of the war there were over 2500 MG units of 12 MG each.

In addition to the heavy MG 08 combined in companies , from the summer of 1917 the new light MG 08/15 were increasingly issued to the rifle companies, initially 2, then 4 and from the beginning of 1918 even 6 per rifle company. Towards the end of the war, the air-cooled "light" MG 08/18 , which had been further developed again, were assigned, but only in relatively small numbers.

During the Weimar Republic

Heavy machine guns 08 and light machine guns 08/15 and 08/18 were initially used in the Reichswehr . According to the Versailles Treaty , only 1,926 machine guns (+ 4% reserve) of all types were approved for the army. In 1927, however, there was a secret inventory of around 12,000 machine guns of all types.

The battalions were structured as follows:

  • The rifle companies, each equipped with 6 "light" MG 08/15 and 08/18, formed the 1st to 3rd company of each battalion.
  • The machine gun companies, each equipped with 12 "heavy" MG 08, formed the 4th company of each battalion.

Around 1930 in the 3 rifle platoons of the individual rifle companies, the 3 rifle groups and the 2 machine gun groups (with 1 machine gun) were combined into three strong unit groups , each with 1 machine gun. The number of machine guns in a rifle company increased from 6 to 9 machine guns.

According to the Versailles Treaty, the cavalry was allowed 24 heavy machine guns per cavalry division - that corresponds to four machine guns per cavalry regiment, but these machine guns were "without budget", that is, there were no personnel for these machine guns. In 1923 the Reichswehr obtained concessions from the Allies here, so that a machine gun platoon of personnel could be set up for each cavalry regiment, which was deployed ("assigned") from other areas. These machine gun platoons, however, had to be set up in two half platoons of two machine guns each, which were in different garrisons. In the course of the covert armament of the Reichswehr in 1932, the number of machine guns was doubled from four to eight and these were divided into four half-platoons of two machine guns each.

According to the Versailles Treaty, the cavalry were not allowed to use light machine guns. One made do with "MG 08/15 and MG 08/18 borrowed from the infantry". Each rider platoon carried such a light machine-gun on a pack animal. The cavalry only received its own light machine guns in 1931 with the new MG 13.

Until 1945

In the Wehrmacht, too, the MG 08 and MG 08/15 initially formed the backbone of machine weapons. In the newly formed mountain infantry regiments, the three battalions of each regiment received a platoon with four heavy machine guns in their 5th company. From 1935 pure machine gun battalions (motorized) were also set up, which had three machine gun companies each with 16 heavy machine guns. Starting in 1936, the MG 08 and MG 08/15 were replaced by the MG 34 in the active infantry divisions . The MG 08/15, MG 08/18 and MG 08 as well as their machine gun wagons and handcarts were handed over to the reserve or Landwehr infantry divisions to be filled with reservists in the event of mobilization. The MG 34 was then supplemented by the MG 42 in the course of the war .

The machine gun companies of the infantry battalions today correspond to the heavy hunter companies , into which machine cannons are incorporated as field cannons and, like the machine gun companies of the Wehrmacht, also contain mortars (grenade launchers).

Structure and equipment until 1918

structure

Machine gun departments / companies consisted of three platoons, each with two machine guns. Each department had a train with various transport vehicles. In early 1918, the machine gun companies were increased to twelve machine guns.

Armament

The main weapon that gave it its name was the machine gun . First the MG 01 and MG 03 , from 1908 the MG 08 were used. The individual soldiers were armed with pistols or rifles. In addition, side guns and sabers were wielded.

Transport and staff

During the formation of the machine gun troops, four-horse machine gun wagons (MGW), each consisting of a two-wheeled front and rear car, were used. This car was intended for the transport of one heavy machine gun. Thus, the 6 MG were transported on six wagons, the service rode on these. The three ammunition wagons (MW), two storage wagons (VW) [one of which later became a field kitchen], a feed wagon (FW), a baggage wagon (PK.W.) and a food wagon (Lb.W.) were also four-wheeled and equipped with four wheels. . Here, too, the team was up. In the course of the expansion of the MG troops, from 1906 only double-drawn wagons were increasingly used. The waiters and crews who had been slaughtered previously had to walk. This applied to all machine-gun troops in the field except for the divisions assigned to the cavalry; these kept their four-in-hand horses. With the machine gun squadrons set up with the Kavllerie regiments from October 1916 , the machine-gun cars were even driven in six horses.

The budget of a machine gun unit:

Foot-moving company of 6 MG :

  • 4 officers, 93 NCOs and men
  • 43 horses, 13 drawn vehicles

Walk length: 150 without or 190 meters with large baggage.

Moving division of 6 MG (four in hand) :

  • 4 officers, 112 NCOs and men
  • 83 horses, 14 drawn vehicles
    • Combat vehicles
      • 6 machine gun cars
      • 3 ammunition carts
    • Combat baggage
      • 1 field kitchen
      • 1 storage trolley
    • Big baggage
      • 1 van
      • 1 feed wagon
      • 1 grocery cart

Walking length: 120 without or 240 meters with a large baggage.

The following officers and men took on leadership tasks within the unit:

Since October 1, 1903, one-year volunteers have been employed in the machine gun departments .

Operating a MG The MG 08 was operated by a crew of five, later six soldiers before and during the First World War:

  • Gun operator: ensures that all commands are obeyed when shooting.
  • Shooter 1: Carries ammunition and digs in the steam hose. Lies behind the rifle driver and the gunner in battle and maintains contact with the shooter 5 at the platoon leader.
  • Gunner 2: Gunner, carries the actual machine gun.
  • Rifleman 3: Supports the gunner when loading and changing barrel, carries the slide (carriage).
  • Shooter 4: substitute, observer, carries ammunition.
  • Gunner 5: One of the three ammunition shooters in an ammunition wagon and assistant to the platoon leader. From 1915 referred to as Schütze 5, he wears the protective shield (introduced in 1915) and carries ammunition and water. Lies with the platoon leader in battle and maintains contact with shooter 1 of his machine gun.

uniform

The uniform of the German machine gun departments was field gray with reddish facings ( black for the Guard Machine Gun Department No. 2). The leather stuff was natural color.

List of memberships in the cavalry until 1918

Other nations

Such departments existed in Russia , Japan , Austria-Hungary , Great Britain and the USA .

In Switzerland the machine gun divisions were called Mitrailleusenkompanien .

literature

  • Edgar Graf von Matuschka: Organizational history of the army 1890-1918. In: Military History Research Office (Ed.): German Military History in Six Volumes 1648–1939. Pawlak Verlagsgesellschaft, Herrsching 1983, ISBN 3-88199-112-3 , Volume 3 (1968).
  • Friedrich von Merkatz (Hrsg.): Textbook for the machine gun companies. Device 08th 19th edition. Published by R. Eisenschmidt, Berlin 1917.
  • Marc Zirlewagen (Ed.): Memories in Pictures. Max Huber's assignment in the Reich Labor Service and in MG Battalion 4 , Essen 2013, ISBN 978-3-939413-26-4 (Das Familienarchiv, Vol. 5)

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, pp. 165f
  2. ↑ The Prussian Machine - German Military Glossary (Engl.)
  3. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, pp. 165f
  4. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, pp. 232-236
  5. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 237
  6. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 237
  7. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 237
  8. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 237f
  9. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 238
  10. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 238
  11. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 238
  12. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 232
  13. ^ Schottelius: The Organization of the Army 1933-1939. 1978, pp. 346-396
  14. ^ Schottelius: The Organization of the Army 1933-1939. 1978, pp. 346-347
  15. ^ Merkatz: instruction book for the machine gun companies. Device 08.1917, p. 164ff.
  16. ^ Merkatz: instruction book for the machine gun companies. Device 08.1917 , p. 208.
  17. ^ Merkatz: instruction book for the machine gun companies. Device 08.1917 , p. 208.
  18. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 265
  19. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 238
  20. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 236
  21. ^ Matuschka: Organizational History of the Army 1890-1918. 1968, p. 236
  22. ^ Merkatz: instruction book for the machine gun companies. Device 08.1917 , p. 241.
  23. ^ Merkatz: instruction book for the machine gun companies. Device 08.1917 , pp. 187-188