Travis:
You have an interesting Luger. Looks like your Luger is stamped 1917. Rare to find a 1917 with a unit mark….Jan Still, in his book "Central Powers Pistols", estimates that only 1% of Lugers manufactured in 1917 were unit marked.
Researched the 78th Infantry Regiment or (Nr. 78) Infanterie=Regiment (Ostfreisches) and found the following information:
The 78th was established on 30 November 1813 with its headquarters and II Battalion in Osnabrück, I Battalion in Emden and the III Battalion in Aurich. Interesting to note that the 11th Company would have been part of the III Battalion. And, the III Battalion of this regiment was the only battalion in it to be awarded the designation, “Füsilier.” This unit participated in the Battle of Waterloo.
At the outbreak of WWI, the 78th was assigned to the 19th Division and remained with this division throughout the entire war. The 19th Division was part of the 10th Army Corps (Hanover) which was part of Von Buelow’s 2nd Army.
On 3 August 1914, the 19th Division was part of the Belgium invasion attacking in and around Liége. After the fall of Liége, the 19th entered France on the 25th and went into action at Guise, at San Quentin. It took part in the Battle of Marne and then withdrew to the northwest of Reims. After rest, it continued fighting in the Champagne area and remained there during the winter of 1914-1915.
In April of 1915, the 19th Division was sent to Galicia and fought in their from May to September. It experienced heavy losses during this period. The 19th entrained on 17 September departing at Warsaw back to the Champagne area. It continued fighting in Champagne area and the Aisne for the remainder of 1915 and into 1916.
On 8 June 1916, the 19th departed France enroute to the Eastern Front arriving in Kovel Russia on 12 June. It retrained from June into November and then was part of the Broussliov Offensive in November as part of the 4th Austrian Army. On 8 November the 19th departed Russia for France and remained in the Rethel area for rest until the end of December.
In January and February, 1917 the 19th was assigned into reserve in the Champagne area. On 24 February it occupied the Ripont Sector followed by a transfer to the Rheims front on 6 March and remained there until mid July. It was sent to the Verdun area and launched several attacks there beginning 7 September and throughout the rest of the year.
The first two months, the 19th rested in the Stenay area. At the end of March, it was sent to and participated in the Battle of Picardy closely followed by heavy fighting in the Somme area where it experienced heavy losses. The division was taken off line in late May, received 1,200 replacements and sent to the Cambrai area. On 9 June it fought in the Noyon area, closely followed by fighting on the Vesle front and in the Laon area. The 19th Division was identified in the Laon area, near Aubenton at the armistice.
Allied Intelligence evaluated the 19th Division as “…first class. It was regarded as one of the best German divisions. It resisted with great obstinacy the French counterattack at Hangard, April 26th. Its morale remained good until the end of October.”
The above information was primarily extracted from a book entitled, "Histories of Two Hundred and Fifty-One Divisions of the German Army Which Participated in the War (1914-1918)", published by the United States War Office in 1920.
Congrats on a fine Luger associated with a remarkable unit.
Ron
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