LugerForum Discussion Forums - Unit marked Luger

P. Stout:

Some history of your 76th Infantry Regimental Luger:

(Nr. 76.) Infanterie=Regiment Hamburg or 2.Hanseatisches Infanterie Regiment was established on 27 September 1866 in Hamburg and remained there until 1914. At the outset of WWI, the 76th was assigned to the 17th Division, one of the divisions forming their 9th Army Corps (Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklemburg). As part of the 1st German Army, it invaded Belgium in August of 1914. It also participated in the Battle of the Marne later than year as well as the fighting around Oise.

In March, 1915, the 76th was withdrawn from the Oise River sector and transferred to the 111th Division, near Brussels, and remained with this division for the rest of WWI. In 1915, the 111th fought in Cotes de Meuse and Artois. This division found itself fighting in the Somme, Cotes de Meuse, again, and back in the Somme during 1916. In January 1917, the 111th was withdrawn from the Somme and fell back to the Hindenberg Line. In July, 1917, it was pulled out of the Hindenberg Line to Flanders and fought at Ypres, followed by engagements at Lorraine, Flanders, and Artois. 1918 saw this division fight first at the Battle of Picardy, then in the Third Battle of the Somme and lastly at Lens where it was at the armistice.

The Allies rated this as a second class division….."It was used as an assault division on the Somme but thereafter served as an intervention division in the Somme area. The division showed considerable power of resistance."

The above information was extracted from "Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army Which Participated in the War (1914-1918).

Did not realize it until I began researching the history of your handsome Luger that one of Lugers I have, a 1910 DWM unit marked to the 22. Dragoons, was also part of the 111th Division!! Rather small world.

Congrats on your wonderful piece of history.

Ron