Geschichte der Maschinen-Gewehr-Scharfschützen-Abt. 73 Regimental History

Offered here is an original regimental history titled Geschichte der Maschinen-Gewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilung 73 von ihrer Formation bis zu ihrer Auflösung (“History of the Machine Gun Sharpshooter Detachment 73 from Its Formation to Its Dissolution”). This rare publication was printed as a remembrance booklet for veterans of the unit, compiled from the wartime chronicle by O.R.R. Redmann and edited for former members.

The hardcover binding features a gilt embossed machine gun within an oval wreath on the front cover. Condition shows age wear, with water staining, shelf wear, and marks visible on the cover. The interior, however, remains largely intact, with supplemental ephemera laid in—including period illustrations and a clipped photograph depicting a Hirschberger Jäger machine gun company returning from maneuvers. One page bears a library stamp: Bibliothek des Reichs-Landbundes.

Contents provide a complete record of MG-Scharfschützen-Abt. 73, covering formation, campaigns, and dissolution, with detailed accounts of wartime service. Pages include photographs, diagrams, and unit history valuable for collectors, historians, and researchers of Imperial German machine gun units.

Measurements: 11 ½” x 8 ½” (approx.).

Condition:

• Covers: noticeable staining, surface rubbing, small marks.

• Spine: intact with light edge wear.

• Pages: generally clean, some toning consistent with age, library stamp present.

• Binding: solid and complete.

• Ephemera inserts included as found.

Historical Context:
The Maschinen-Gewehr-Scharfschützen-Abteilungen were specialized machine gun sharpshooter detachments of the Imperial German Army during World War I. Formed in 1916 to increase mobile firepower on the battlefield, they were equipped with heavy MG 08 machine guns mounted on sleds. These units played a critical role in both defensive and offensive operations, often attached to larger divisions. Unit histories such as this were published in small numbers for veterans’ associations and are today highly sought after for their detailed combat narratives and photographic documentation.

Collector Value:
This example represents a scarce regimental history for MG-Scharfschützen-Abt. 73, seldom encountered complete with period ephemera. Its direct connection to Imperial German machine gun formations makes it an important reference work.