1914 Reichs Gendarmerie Luger sn 74596 marked R.G. 136b Central Powers Pistols p 73 Imperial Lugers p 58.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
The French Provinces Alsace (German: Elsass) and Lorraine (German: Lothringen) are located along the Rhine River between Germany and France. These were occupied by Germany after the Franco-German War of 1870-1871 and made into a German province. It was administered under a pseudo military occupation. The Reichs-Gendarmerie was raised from the Prussian Police or other police within Germany for law enforcement and security purposes within Elsass-Lothringen. The Reichs-Gendarmerie became government officials of the Imperial Reich.
The Reichs-Gendarmerie was organized under military lines. It was formed into a Brigade, headed by a Brigadier his adjutants, 5 district officers, 21 Oberwacht Meisters and 410 mounted and foot Gendarmeries. The mounted Gendarmerie were called Berittenen
Bayonets, Reichs revolvers, and Lugers were marked by the Elsass-Lothringen police with an R.G. followed by a weapons number. Wotka suggests that the mounted Gendarmerie (Berittenen) received the Lugers engraved with the R.G. xxb, the b signifying Berittenen. Assuming that the property numbers are consecutive, it is estimated that the mounted police (Berittenen) received approximately 136 Lugers ( R.G. 14b to R.G. 136b) and the unmounted police received approximately 272 Lugers (R.G. 27 to R.G. 272). Based on this analysis the total Luger procurement would be about 408. If each Reich Gendarmerie was P08 armed, the estimated total would compare very well with the documented number indicated by Wotka of 410 mounted and foot Gendarmerie..
At the start of World War I the Germans moved some of their forces out of Elsass-Lothringen to set a trap for the French who were anxious to free the occupied territory. The French forces retook part of Elsass-Lothringen. They battled bravely, but fierce German counter attacks soon forced the French out. (Undoubtedly the Reichs-Gendarmerie took some part in the August 1914 battle for Elsass-Lothringen.)
In 1919, French forces again occupied Alsace Lorraine. It is of interest that all or almost all of the reported R.G. marked Lugers do not show signs of post 1918 German military or police rework or markings (post 1918 police or military unit markings, Weimar Era acceptance stamps, 1920 stamp, sear safety, etc).
Sources: Reinhard Kornmayer, documents published in 1908 (3 April 1982 personal correspondence); Gortz (1997, page 130); and Joe Wotka,1914 dated documents (correspondance,1982). Still Volume I, 1982, page 101 to 104., Imperial Lugers 1991 page xxi-xxii, page 26, 57 and 58.
REICHS-GENDARMERIE ( R.G.) MARKED LUGERS
Some 1908 and 1914 DWM Commercial Lugers have a R.G. prominently engraved above the left grip. These are reported in the 60385 to 61821 (1908) and 73882 to 74707 (1914) serial range (There is overlap between the two ranges). If the property numbers are consecutive it appears that approximately 136 Lugers were marked R.G. xxb and another 272 Lugers were marked R.G. xx.
10 Reichs-Gendarmerie marked Lugers are reported with the added b (mounted).
22 Reichs-Gendarmerie marked Lugers are reported without the b. (unmounted).
REICHS GENDARMERIE LUGERS, SERIAL NUMBERS, AND DETAILS. MOUNTED (b) SEPARATED FROM UNMOUNTED (no b)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61626: R.G.4b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 4, Mounted) Right Rec. C/B C/B
* 1908 DWM Comm., 60530: R.G.14b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Mounted, Waffe 14) Right Rec. C/B C/B; 8,83 barrel gauge; all commercial style serial number placement. Shown page xxii and 57 of Imperial Lugers, 1991. Don Rousseau collection.
* 1908 DWM Comm., sn not reported (snr) R.G.15b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 15 Mounted) inferred from magazine
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61503: R.G.18b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 18 Mounted) Right Rec. C/B C/B. parkerized
* 1908 DWM Comm., snr: R.G.21b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 21 Mounted) KAR98
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61428: R.G.34b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 34, Mounted) Right Rec. C/B C/B; 8,82 barrel gauge.
* 1908 DWM Comm., snr: R.G.42b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 42 Mounted) inferred from magazine
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61121: R.G.51b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 51 Mounted)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61297: R.G.59b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 59, Mounted)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61718: R.G.81b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 81, Mounted)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74596: R.G.136b-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Mounted, Waffe 136) Shown on page 103 and 104 of Still Volume I, 1981. In the collection of Jan Still for over 30 years.
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61305: R.G.27-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 27)
* 1908 DWM Comm., snr : R.G.41-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 41)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 60385: R.G.51-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 51)
* 1908 DWM Comm., snr : R.G.60-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 60)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61821: R.G.100-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 100)
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61755: R.G.106-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 106) C/X C/X right receiver
* 1908 DWM Comm., 61649: R.G.109-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 109)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74186: R.G.160-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 160)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74202: R.G.165-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 165)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74221: R.G.168-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 168)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74164: R.G.176-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 176)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74208: R.G.206-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 206)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 73882: R.G.208-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 208)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74224: R.G.210-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 210)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74200: R.G.214-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 214) Matching mag. marked 74200 on base
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74213: R.G.220-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 220)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74100: R.G.232-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 232)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74012: R.G.238-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 238) Shown page 93 of Luger the Multi National Pistol, Kenyon, 1991.
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74061: R.G.240-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 240)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74036: R.G.252-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 252)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74722: R.G.255-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 255)
* 1914 DWM Comm., 74707: R.G.272-(Reichs Gendarmerie Elass-Lorthingen, Waffe 272)
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