This may not be the kind of research intended for this section, but I thought that some folks might find it interesting so here it is.
Several years ago, I came across a luger that had been issued to thethe 1st Company of the 4th Hannoverian Infantry Regiment Nr. 164 before the Great War. Some time later, I found a copy of that regiments history during the war. So, with the help of several on-line sites and what little I remembered from three years of college German classes, I managed to translate it. It was amazing! I learned more about the Great War from that one book than I had learned in years of school. For example, in spite of what we read in text books that the French stopped the German advance at the Marne River in what has become known as the "Miracle on the Marne," I.R. 164 had crossed the Marne and fought its way to the village of Mondemont, which is about 40 miles beyond the Marne and the site the French National Memorial of the Victory of the Marne. However, with regard to firearms, one of the many interesting passages was this:
" On March 24, [1915] the Regiment was relieved by Infantry Regiment 92 and received local quarters in Bazancourt. There rifles, sidearms and ammunition were handed over…. At noon on March 26, the Regiment stood at the exit from Bazancourt to Boult in the open square to bid farewell to the superiors…. In the afternoon of the same day the Battalions were loaded and transported…. The Regiment was equipped with 88er rifles…."
It turned out that the Gewehr 98s which the Regiment had been using since 1904 were taken from them and put into the hands of the fresh troops, many school age and college volunteers, who had received very little training but were pushed forward with the German offensive in April 1915. On the German side, those involved in this spring offensive came to be known as the "Heroes of Langemarck." On the allied side they were known as the heroes of the First Battle of Ypres. In the meantime, the veterans of Infantry Regiment 164, had to fight with old, worn out Gew 88s. Some time after that, I managed to find one. Thought you might like to have a look. Thanks for your time.
Several years ago, I came across a luger that had been issued to thethe 1st Company of the 4th Hannoverian Infantry Regiment Nr. 164 before the Great War. Some time later, I found a copy of that regiments history during the war. So, with the help of several on-line sites and what little I remembered from three years of college German classes, I managed to translate it. It was amazing! I learned more about the Great War from that one book than I had learned in years of school. For example, in spite of what we read in text books that the French stopped the German advance at the Marne River in what has become known as the "Miracle on the Marne," I.R. 164 had crossed the Marne and fought its way to the village of Mondemont, which is about 40 miles beyond the Marne and the site the French National Memorial of the Victory of the Marne. However, with regard to firearms, one of the many interesting passages was this:
" On March 24, [1915] the Regiment was relieved by Infantry Regiment 92 and received local quarters in Bazancourt. There rifles, sidearms and ammunition were handed over…. At noon on March 26, the Regiment stood at the exit from Bazancourt to Boult in the open square to bid farewell to the superiors…. In the afternoon of the same day the Battalions were loaded and transported…. The Regiment was equipped with 88er rifles…."
It turned out that the Gewehr 98s which the Regiment had been using since 1904 were taken from them and put into the hands of the fresh troops, many school age and college volunteers, who had received very little training but were pushed forward with the German offensive in April 1915. On the German side, those involved in this spring offensive came to be known as the "Heroes of Langemarck." On the allied side they were known as the heroes of the First Battle of Ypres. In the meantime, the veterans of Infantry Regiment 164, had to fight with old, worn out Gew 88s. Some time after that, I managed to find one. Thought you might like to have a look. Thanks for your time.
Last edited: