First Luger

[Karmel612]

I am new to the forum and I recently inherited my first Luger. I have been trying to research Luger's but haven't gotten far as there are apparently a lot of differences and history between them. In fact I'm not even sure what caliber I have. The Luger I have is a double date 1918/1920 DWM. All the serial numbers match and there are a ton of little markings which I assume are unit markings but I am unsure. Any info would be appreciated. I will upload pictures. Thanks in advance.

[Karmel612]

Other photos

[Karmel612]

Photo

[Karmel612]

More

[Karmel612]

Front of grip

[Karmel612]

Under barrel

[Karmel612]

Lanyard strap

[MFC]

Hi Matthew,
Welcome to the forum. Your DWM Luger was made in 1918 for the German army. It is a 9mm. The 8,83 stamp on the barrel is the bore gauge, measured from land to land in millimeters. The 1920 stamp is a property mark (not a date). It was added during the Wiemar era showing it was government property. The unit mark experts will chime in shortly to decipher them for you.

[Edward Tinker]

Matthew,

Welcome to the forum, unless the bore has been relined it would be 9mm luger. Take a common pencil, if it fits down easily, it is a 9mm, if not, then a 7.65mm.


Ed

[Karmel612]

I appreciate your help. I wasn't sure from eyeing it up with a 9mm Luger cartridge, but when compared to my other 9mm handguns it does appear to be a 9mm. I didn't think it was re-lined as the number beneath the barrel matched numbers elsewhere on the gun. Apparently Luger's are not as clearly marked as more modern handguns for their caliber.

[DavidJayUden]

Apparently Luger's are not as clearly marked as more modern handguns for their caliber.


Propbably fewer lawyers around in 1918...
dju

[RJS]

Matthew:

The unit markings on the front strap are for a cavalry unit of Reischwehr. It was formed in 1920 from units of the Imperial army.

The grip markings indicate it was the 17th gun of the 1st squadron of the 10th Reiter Regiment. That unit was part of the 2nd Cavalry Division based in the Dresden military district.

This is a rare pistol and in good condition.

[Karmel612]

So I guess that means I should take good care of it. I really appreciate the information. I now have something to google to learn a little more about the history and I think its awesome to own a piece.

[rhuff]

The 8.83 on the underside of the barrel is the caliber of the barrel. It stands for the land diameter in milimeters....8.83=9mm.

[padredan]

Matthew, welcome to the forum, you havea real nice and orignal peice of history, enjoy it, thanks for posting

[SteveM]

Is the L 17 on the rear of the frame an extension to the gripstrap marking?

[alanint]

This is a rack number identifying pistol number 17.

[RJS]

Matthew;

If you want to research the unit history of the 10th Reiter Regiment, I suggest this site:

www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de.

Use the google translate feature and it all appears in English.

Here is what it says about the 10th Reiter Regiment:

Reiter-Regiment 10
10th (Prussian) Cavalry Regiment
10th Cavalry Regiment
Cavalry Regiment Torgau
Cavalry Regiment 10

FP numbers: For the regiment no FP numbers were assigned as resolved before the war began.

The Cavalry Regiment 10 was in the spring of 1920 in the Military District III erected. The regiment was with the installation of the second Cavalry Division assumed. As a special feature, the regiment had silver kettledrums, originally owned by the Royal Decree no. Preuss. Leib-Cuirassiers. In June 1920, the Chief of the Army decreed their transfer to the 10th Cavalry Regiment Also in the formation of the 100,000 men of the army, the regiment was also assumed that division. The regimental headquarters was with the 1st, 2nd and 5 Squadron in Züllichau , the Military District III , stationed. The 3rd and the 4th Squadron of the regiment were in Torgau , then also Military District III , home. Due to the military law of 23 March 1921 § 14 paragraph 2 of the regiment was then 10 (Prussian) renamed cavalry regiment. The regiment remained more the second Cavalry Division assumed. Also in 1921, the 5th Squadron to squadron training renamed. In the early years part of the regiment were mainly used for putting down uprisings in central Germany, the area of ​​Bitterfeld and Leuna-Halle later.
The tradition of sponsorship in the regiment was then for the first years of the army distributed as follows:
First Squadron: Magdeburgisches Cuirassiers "von Seydlitz" # 7
Second Squadron: Thüringisches Hussars 12
Third Squadron: 1 Kurhessisches Hussars "King Humbert of Italy" # 13, Hunter Horse Regiment No. 13
4th Squadron: Posen Sches Lancers "Prince August of Württemberg" # 10
Training squadron: King's Regiment-mounted hunters # 1
In the early 20s, there were some changes in the garrisons of the squadrons. Here, the regimental headquarters was now with the 3rd, 4th and training squadron in Züllichau home. The 1st and second Squadron of the regiment were in favor in Torgau stationed. In 1927, the regiment took part in the great maneuvers in Thuringia, which ended with a parade of cavalry regiments before Field Marshal von Hindenburg. 1928/29 took over the 3rd 6th Squadron also the tradition of the Machine Gun Section No. In the late summer of 1932 was the big maneuvers in Silesia. By law, 20 July 1933 was the addition of ethnic traditions away with the regiment, and the regiment was now only 10th Cavalry regiment. In addition, the squadrons were now renamed squadrons. 1934, the release of the 5th Squadron of the regiment to the motor vehicle department of Leipzig. Furthermore and even individual contributions to foreign troops and the air force. Also in 1934 the relocation of the three squadrons of cavalry regimental headquarters and Trumpet Corps of Züllichau was to Torgau to union with the 5th to a new (Rider) Squadron completed regiment. With the expansion of the army and armed forces on 1 October 1934 the regiment of cavalry regiment Tarngründen in Torgau was renamed. With the exposure of the associations, the regiment was on 15 October 1935 renamed the cavalry regiment 10th In 1936, the subordination of the regiment was under the Fourth Army Corps . In autumn 1936, the cavalry regiment for Cavalry Regiment 10 was increased to 11 squadrons. The First Department of the regiment with the 1st to 5th Reiter's squadron was stationed in the old Zieten Barracks. The Second Department of the regiment was 6th in the newly built Seydlitz barracks next door to the to 8 Bicycling squadron 9th, (Anti-tank) Squadron (this in the battery barracks) and the 10th (Severe) Squadron (an armored scout, three cavalry gun features 7.5 cm). stationed. The 11th (News) Squadron was directly under the regimental staff. The regiment was now no longer own tactical unit, but training body for divisional reconnaissance units (AA) of infantry divisions. In the event of mobilization, it should immediately first three sections Shaft, which is almost exclusively of the active service (AA 4, 14, 24), and one of the second Wave, some with up reservists (AA 187), can.

In spring 1938, the invasion of Austria has not directly affected, the Cavalry Regiment 10 was in the summer from two lieutenants at the Stockerau in Vienna new from former Austrian dragoon regiments established Cavalry Regiment 11 while then some active officers came from there to Torgau .

In autumn 1938, the Reconnaissance Battalion 24 (3rd rider, 8-wheeled squadron, parts 9, 10 and 11 Squadron of Cavalry Regiment 10), during the invasion of the Sudetenland and in Frühjahr1939 in which the residual Czechoslovakia used to Prague. From summer to increased recoveries of reservists and civilian vehicles. The mobilization for the 2nd World War II loomed. During mobilization in August 1939, the regiment was disbanded. It was the reconnaissance units 4 , 14 and 24 and parts of the reconnaissance units 156 and 187 .

The following distribution is known:
Regimental headquarters was unknown
Staff Division I. was unknown
First (Rider) Squadron was unknown
Second (Rider) Squadron was 1st / Reconnaissance Battalion 14
Third (Rider) Squadron was 1st / Reconnaissance Battalion 24
4th (Rider) Squadron was unknown
5th (Rider) Squadron was unknown
Staff II Division was Staff / Reconnaissance Battalion 24
6th (Radf. -) Squadron was unknown
7th (Radf. -) Squadron was unknown
8th (Radf. -) Squadron was 2 / 24 Reconnaissance Battalion
9th (Pz.Abw -.) Squadron formed Parts of the third Squadrons of reconnaissance units 4 , 14 , 24 , 156 and 187 .
10th (Severe) Squadron formed Parts of the third Squadrons of reconnaissance units 4 , 14 , 24 , 156 and 187 .
11th (Msgs -) Squadron formed The news of trains reconnaissance units 4 , 14 , 24 , 156 and 187 .

In Torgau, only the newly formed remained Cavalry Reserve Division 10 (it also left behind the rider squadron).

Regimental commanders:

Major Deyhle (1920)

Colonel Count von Bredow 1920 - 1921

Colonel Schoen 1921 - 1923

Colonel Adolf Wilhelm Janssen first November 1923 - 31 January 1927

Colonel Ernst-August Kostring first March 1927 - 31 January 1931

Colonel Walter of Dufay first February 1931 - 31 January 1934

Colonel Theodor Freiherr von Wrede first February 1934 - the first October 1937

Colonel Walter Krueger first October 1937 - 26th August 1939

Department commanders

I. Department:

Major Hans-Wilhelm von Goerne (1939)

Division II:

Major of Opole-Bronikowski 18th October 1937 - Resolution

Regimental adjutant:

Captain

Captain von Manstein (1924, 25, 26)

Lieutenant Mortimer von Kessel (1927)

Captain Hermann von Oppeln-Bronikowski (1928) - (1933)

Lieutenant Klewitz (1938)

[skeeter4206]

Man I wish I could read german www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de I bet its interesting reading.

[Karmel612]

I really appreciate the link. I'm going check it out and see if I can piece together the history of this Luger. Unfortunately, how my uncle attained it may be an unsolvable mystery as he was the only one left who would know. Thanks again. Time to start the research.