[Joop van de Kant]

On a Erfurt 1916 I saw the following Unit marking:
3.M.G.K.R.J.R.230.12

I know that M.G. could be Machine gun unit
Also J.R.230.12 is clear: Infantery Regiment 230 - weapon Nr 12
But the meaning of K.R. in the middle?....
It is one of the longest markings I ever saw.
Help is very welcome, as I intend to buy this good looking Luger!

 

[Jan C Still]

Joop
The marking 3.M.G.K.R.J.R.230.12 can be separated into two parts which signify:
3.M.G.K. = 3rd Machine Gun Kompagnie
R.J.R.230.12 = Reserve Infanterie Regiment 230, weapon No. 12

Better/properly put together it means: Reserve Infanterie Regiment 230, 3rd Machine Gun Kompagnie, weapon no. 12
Jan

Also note: during World War I, the 230 Infantry Regiment did not exist. There was only a 230 Reserve Infantry Regiment. All regiments between 201 and 273 were Reserve Infantry Regiments.

 

[Joop van de Kant]

Jan,

Thank you for solving this puzzle. It is now perfectly clear to me. I just wonder if the reserve infantry regiments like # 230 saw any action during WW I. Is there any source where I could find reliable information about that?
Best regards,

 

[Jan C Still]

Joop
The 230 Reserve Infantry Regiment was part of the 50 Reserve Division during World War II.

See Histories of 251 Divisions of the German Army that participated in the War 1914-1918, page 493.

A few notes from the above history:

1914 Mid Oct. part of the 8th Army (Von Hindenburg) that battled in Poland.
1915 operations along the Bzura. Pursued the Russians.
1915 Oct. France Champagne, Artos.
1916 Somme, La Bassee
1917 Achiet le Peti, Somme, Artos, Flanders (suffered heavy losses taking the village of St Julien), Lille, Cambrai.
Value-1917 Estimate: took part in a number of battles and was shaken by heavy losses it suffered. Improved very much.

1918 Picardy, Soissons, Rheims

Jan

 

[Joop van de Kant]

Jan,

Thank you again for this fine piece of information!