1908 DWM, 9TH JAGER BATAILLON

Jan C Still · Nov 9, 2003

1908 DWM, SERIAL NUMBER 7872, 9TH JAGER BATAILLON MARKED, DETAILS AND BATTLE HISTORY

1908 DWM Lugers (often referred to as first issues)are reported in the 1 to 4828b serial range and were manufactured without chamber date, hold open, stock lug, and with commercial style (hidden)serial placement. These were manufactured in 1908 and1909. About 25,000 were manufactured. About 25 percent are unit marked. In a data base with 823 unit marked Imperial Lugers, only 16 are Jager marked (10 Jager and 6 Jager Machine Gun)

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Figure 1. Left slant view of 1908 DWM, serial number 7872. The serial number placement is hidden (commercial style). Note: the British stamps/proofs on the barrel, frame (top of safety well) and toggle train (top of breech block).

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Figure 2. Top of 1908 DWM, serial number 7872.

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Figure 3. Right side of 1908 DWM, serial number 7872. According to a May 6,1913 directive all P08's in service without a hold open were to have the hold open retrofitted. This was accomplished by Erfurt. A small crown / P indicates a hold open was retrofitting to this Luger. The end of the pin placed to retain the hold open is properly in the white.

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Figure 4. Left receiver and barrel of 1908 DWM, serial number 7872. Only the 1908 Variation has the two acceptance stamps and test proof on the left receiver (an exception is the 1906 model test). This view shows details of the British proofs/stamps on the barrel. Such British proofs are not common on military Lugers. Events in this Lugers history (told at the end of this post) indicate the probable origin of these British proofs/stamps.

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Figure 5. Front of frame and bottom of barrel of 1908 DWM, serial number 7872. The serial number of the take down lever is in the commercial style (hidden). Note: the halo around the digits of the barrel serial number and lack of halo on the frame serial number.

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Figure 6. 1908 DWM, serial number 7872, showing the bottom of it’s matching magazine. The large numbers aligned with the long axis of the magazine bottom were used on magazine bottoms from the start of the no suffix 1908 DWM First Issue to the 1911 dated DWM Lugers. A suffix was added to the magazine bottom when the “e” suffix was reached in 1911. Starting in about 1912 smaller letters aligned across the magazine were used.

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Figure 7. 1908 DWM, serial number 7872, showing the inside of its grips. They are not serial number stamped.

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Figure 8. Front, 1908 DWM, serial number 7872, showing unit markings.

Jan C Still · Nov 9, 2003

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Figure 9. Details of unit markings: 9.J.1.2. : signifies 9 Jäger-Bataillon, Kompagnie 1, Waffe Nr. 2. It is the Lauenburgisches Jager-Bataillon Nr. 9, it’s home base is Ratzeburg and it was founded in 1866.
During World War I this Bataillon battled with the 17th Infantry Division, 18th Infantry Division and the 302nd Division. It fought on both the Western and the Eastern Fronts.
At the start of World War I the 9th Jager Bataillon was with the 1st German Army (Von Kluck). It battled at Leige, hammered the British at Mons, and fought at the Marne. During 1915 it battled at Champagne and during 1916 it suffered heavy losses from desperate fighting at the Somme.
Toward the end of 1916 the 9 Jager Bataillon transferred to Macedonia where it joined the 302nd Division. It battled on the Macedonia Front (Monastir-Boulce de la Cerna). It fought mixed British-French expeditionary and Serbian forces during 1917 and 1918. On October 1, 1918 the division surrendered to the British as a complete unit, divisional commander, staff, and troops numbering 7000.

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Figure 10. The Luger and bayonet are both marked the 9th Jäger-Bataillon and the book is the World War I Battle History of the 9th Jäger-Bataillon. The Luger holster is a conversion from a Reichsrevolver holster.

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Figure 11. S71/84 bayonet stamped 9.J.M.G.65. It signifies 9 Jäger-Bataillon Maschinengewehr-Kompagnie, Waffe Nr. 65. Both this bayonet and the Jäger-Bataillon Luger are very rare.

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Figure 12. 9 Jäger-Bataillon World War I battle History. The Jager were recruited from rural areas and included hunters and marksmen. They proved some of the best World War I fighters and established themselves as elite troops.

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Figure 13. 9th Jager Bataillon colors from the 9 Jäger-Bataillon World War I Battle History.

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Figure 14. Jager armed with Luger. From the 9 Jäger-Bataillon World War I Battle History.

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Figure 15. Jager armed with Luger. From the 9 Jäger-Bataillon World War I Battle History.

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Figure 16. Machine Gun Zug. Most of these Jagers are Luger armed and wear the machine gun drag strap. From the 9 Jäger-Bataillon World War I Battle History.

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Figure 17. Depiction of an in action World War I machine gun.

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Figure. 18. Front of Reichsrevolver holster converted to a Luger holster. Military Luger holsters dated 1908 and 1909 are extremely rare. It is suggested that these Reichsrevolver holsters converted to luger holsters were the principal source of Luger holsters during 1908 and 1909.

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Figure 19. Back of Reichsrevolver holster converted to a Luger holster.

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Figure 20. Reichsrevolver holster converted to a Luger holster open with accessories. It was stamped JULIUS JANSEN / STRASSBURG after rework.(Under 1900-1918 Holsters: Early Imperial Army Holster by Garfield, the maker/rework stamp is the same.)

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Figure 21. Markings on back of holster between belt loops: 1905 I.B., 1908/3C/I. The dates 1905 and 1908 and the unit markings were most likely stamped on the Reichsrevolver holster prior to its conversion to a Luger holster.

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Figure 22. Shown is 9th Jager Staff Sergeant Kolz. He is known as the Vogesen devil (Vogesen is a region at the Germany/France border). Notice his holster, its profile is the same as the Reichsrevolver conversion shown above. Both the holster and the period photographs showing it are rare.
Klaus Schad noted that you could always tell a company-sergeant (“Spiess” in German) because he always carries his notebook in his tunic, just like in the above photograph. From the 9 Jäger-Bataillon World War I battle History. (Translation by Klaus Schad)

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Figure. 23. Jagers over running a French line on the Macedonian Front near Monastir during 1917. The French were part of a British-French expeditionary force to this area and called it the Salonika Front. Both the Luger and Bayonet shown above were issued to Jagers that battled on this front near Monastir during 1917.
The 302 Division (and the 9th Jager Regiment) remained on the Macedonia Front until October 1, 1918 when it surrendered to the British as a complete unit, divisional commander, staff, and troops numbering 7000..
Surrender to the British at the end of the War probably explains the British proofs/stamps found on the 9th Jäger-Bataillon stamped Luger (above). It was captured by the British and received proof stamps when it was exported to the United states many years ago.

Jan C Still · Nov 9, 2003