"Unit Marked" DWM Model 1908 Commercial Luger

[roadkill1]

Recently, I purchased a Model 1908 DMW Commercial Luger, serial no. 55493 (date of manufacture by DWM based upon its serial number and extrapolation from Dwight Gruber’s database is 1910), 9mm, crown over N marked on bottom of barrel and left side of frame (crown over N, lazy), wood base magazine without numbers. The left side of the Luger frame has the inscription “Oblt. Lieb., 3.Wurtt.Geb.Komp.” The rather unique and storied unit is the Wuerttembergische Gebrigs-Batallion, (WGB), or the Wurttemberg Mountain Battalion. The first pictures below are of this Luger. The last two pictures are of the cover page of a document containing information regarding this unit and the last picture is the page from this document listing the names of the six infantry company commanders with “Oblt. Lieb” as “Kommandeur of 3. Komp.” (Commander, 3rd Company), respectively.

At this point, I want to thank both George Anderson and Klaus Schad for their time, research and generousity in providing me much of the information surrounding this Luger prior to my purchasing it and, subsequently, regarding this unit and Oblt. Lieb in terms of the information below.

WGB Organization and Mission: On 5 December 1914, the Wurttemberg Ski Company of No. 1 was formed as part of the reserve battalion of Infantry Regiment No. 124 in Baienfurt at Weingarten, Kingdom of Wurttemberg. This company was composed of three “trains” (platoons) with a total of six officers, 210 NCO and men and 22 mules along with a machine gun “train” with one officer, 45 NCO and men and 18 mules. In April, 1915, the Wurttemberg Ski Company was renamed to the Wurttemberg Mountain Company and eventually became the nucleus for the WGB. The majority of additional soldiers for this new battalion had come following an invitation from the Wurttemberg War Ministry, to all officers and men with expertise in moving on snow, to join this new unit. The following October, at Munsingen in Wurttemberg, the WGB was formally established. Its composition was six rifle companies, each with 200 rifles, and three machine gun companies, each with six heavy machine guns. The basic role of the WGB was to be self-supporting infantry unit and to perform independent operations in a mountainous environment. Each of the six rifle companies was trained and performed independent operations to include its own fire support via one or more of the machine gun companies. To facilitate independent operations, this battalion had an expanded administrative, transportation (including veterinary officers) and signal sections. In 1918, the WGB was expanded into the Wurttemberg Mountain Regiment.

WGB Combat History: During 1915, the WGB was assigned to the Alpenkorps (Alpine Corps). In early 1916, the WGB was sent the Vosges Sector of the Western Front but saw little action. The following July, the 200th Division was formed. The infantry element of this division was composed of three Jaegers regiments (3rd, 4th and the 5th). The 3rd Jaeger Regiment had four ski battalions, one of which was the WGB. It subsequently fought in the Carpathian Mountains and in Bukovina against the Russians. The 200th Division continued to fight in the Bukovina until July of 1917 when it entrained to Italy. Reaching the Italian frontier in October, the 200th was a leading element of the Isonzo Offensive (12th Battle of the Isonzo) fighting in the mountainous regions of Caporetto, Piave River, Longarone and Mount Tomba. Although the WGB fought brilliantly during the entire Isonzo Offensive, it was during the battles of Mt. Matajur (October 24-26) and Longarone (October 26 –November 10) that the WGB received special recognition for its demonstrated leadership and tactical accomplishments. In summary, the WGB’s Commander, Maj. Sproesser divided the battalion into essentially two “detachments.” He commanded one detachment and appointed his 2nd Company Commander to lead the other detachment, which included the 3rd Company. The superlative leadership demonstrated in overcoming the dangerous mountainous conditions and Winter weather coupled with the lightening speed with which the two detachment commanders used in executing their tactical plans resulted in capturing both Longarone and approximately 10,000 Italian soldiers, 82 guns while suffering only six dead and 30 wounded. These actions resulted in both WGB detachment commanders being awarded the ’Pour le Merite’ Prussia’s highest combat award. Maj. Sproesser entered the Reichswehr following WWI and was promoted to Oberstleutnant on 1 March 1920. On 1 February 1922 he was promoted to Oberst and became the Commandant of Glatz. Sproesser retired as a Generalmajor (Major General) on 31 March 1925. He died in 1932. The commander of this second detachment also chose to enter the Reichswehr following WWI. His name was Oblt. Erwin Rommel who, during WW II, gained the rank of Feldmarschall (Field Marshal) and the nickname of the “Dessert Fox.” In 1917, the 200th was rated as one of the best divisions in the German Army. In January of 1918 after suffering heavy losses, the 200th was withdrawn from the Eastern Front to France for replacement, rest and training. In March, it deployed to the Mont Didier area and, for the next three months, fought in the Le Cateau region to include Chateau Thierry. On July 15th the 200th attacked west of Dormans during the Battle of the Marne and remained fighting in this and the Wassigny area for the remainder of the war. The 200th Division, during the fighting of 1918 was rated as one of the best 2nd class divisions.

Oblt. (Oberleutnant or First Lieutenant) Lieb: In 1915, Oblt. Lieb transferred into the WGB from Inf. Regt. Nr. 125 (5.Wurttembergisches). At the Armistice, Lieb was serving with the Headquarters of the 240th Infantry Division. The 240th was established in early 1917 and trained from Feb. 4th to Mar 28th. It then went into the line in late March/early April fighting in the Alsace, Woevre, Ypres and Cambrai areas. In both Ypres and Cambrai areas, the division suffered heavy losses in successive British attacks. In the middle of December, it was withdrawn from the front for rest, replacements and training. uring 1918, the 240th fought in the Lens, Argonne, Champagne and Reims areas. It also fought in the Battle of Lys incurring heavy losses including many prisoners. The 240th Infantry Division was rated as third class with greatly reduced effectives and low morale. After the war, as Hauptmann (Captain), Lieb served with Inf. Rgmt. 15 of the Reichswehr.

[Ron Wood]

That is a knock you socks off Luger and history. Congratulations and thank you for presenting it here for us to enjoy.

[NoncomRetired]

Nice complete History of a piece of History. I'm in awe. Loved reading it.

Thanks.................

[skeeter4206]

That is no doubt interesting. Great find! Interesting reading and the last picture showing the company commanders. I noticed there were two Rommels listed in that picture. The first in the "2 Komp - Oberleutnant Rommel" and in the "4 Komp - Leutnant Rommel". I wonder if there is any relationship between the two. I know in history you always here about the desert fox. But never heard if there was any other family related members.

Thanks for sharing that piece with us.

[alanint]

Rommel, the Dessert Fox has a son Manfred, who was a Luftwaffe Flak cannon crew member in WW2. He later became mayor of Stuttgard for many years. The Dessert Fox's wife Lucie actually retired here to Florida for many years before passing away!

Many people don't know that Rommel also had an illegitimate daughter, Gertrude.

[roadkill1]

Thanks all for the kind words. I am indeed VERRRRY fortunate to both have "found" this Luger and have friends like George Anderson and Klaus Schad who are not only Luger experts but will to share their vast knowledge.

Skeeter: Excellent observation regarding the additional "Rommels" listed on the WGB rolls. I too wondered about the same possibility particularly since they were from "sister Wurttemberg infantry regiments", Nr. 124 and Nr. 125 respectively. I asked this same question to Klaus Schad who informed me that if Lt. Rommel of the 4th Komp. was related, it would have been as a nephew. Erwin did have two brothers. Gehard Rommel was the younger brother who did not serve in WWI. He became a singer and entertainer. Erwin's older brother, Karl, was pilot and served with Flg. Abt. 284 fighting in Palastine. Apparently Karl contracted a severe case of malaria that crippled him from that point on, perhaps for the rest of his life.

Ron