These brass shoulder buttons for the 13th Machine Gun Company of the German Empire represent a significant phase in the development of military armament and organization at the beginning of the 20th century. These uniform components document the gradual integration of revolutionary weapons technology into the traditional structures of the Imperial Army.
The introduction of the machine gun in the German Army initially proceeded hesitantly and was marked by considerable reservations. While the military leadership recognized the potential of this new weapon, its integration into existing tactical concepts presented a significant challenge. By 1904, only 16 independent machine gun detachments had been established, operating as specialized units outside the regular infantry regiments.
Between 1908 and 1912, a first major reorganization occurred: each infantry brigade received its own machine gun company. However, this structure proved insufficient, as the machine guns were not organically integrated into the regimental structure, thereby complicating their tactical employment.
A decisive change took place from 1913 onward, when the Army command decided to assign each infantry regiment and each Jäger battalion its own MG company as the 13th Company. This organizational form represented a paradigm shift: the machine gun was now regarded as an integral component of the infantry rather than as a separate branch of service. The numbering as the 13th Company followed the traditional regimental structure, in which the line companies were numbered 1 through 12.
The reverse marking “Extra Fein” (Extra Fine) on the shoulder buttons indicates high-quality manufacture and was a common quality mark on uniform components of this era. Manufacturers of military effects had to meet strict quality standards defined in the corresponding army clothing regulations.
Parallel to the establishment of 13th Companies in field regiments, fortress machine gun companies were also formed. These were assigned to existing infantry regiments and designated as the 14th Company. Fortress troops played an important role in the German defense concept, and the integration of machine guns into fortress garrisons significantly enhanced their firepower.
The use of brass for shoulder buttons was standard in the Imperial Army and conformed to clothing regulations. The material was robust, easy to maintain, and provided a representative appearance through its golden color. The diameter of approximately 1.95 cm corresponds to the standard measurements for shoulder strap buttons of the Prussian and German Army of this period.
The rarity of these shoulder buttons can be explained by several factors: First, the organizational form with independent 13th MG Companies existed for only a relatively short period before the outbreak of World War I. Second, structures were repeatedly reorganized during the war, and from 1916 onward, each battalion received its own MG sections, rendering the central 13th Company obsolete. Third, the war led to enormous wear and loss of uniform components, so peacetime equipment like this rarely survived.
The machine gun companies were typically equipped with six machine guns, predominantly the MG 08 model, a German variant of the Maxim machine gun. The company comprised approximately 150 men, including specialized personnel for operation, maintenance, and transport of the weapons. Tactical doctrine envisioned that the MG company would not be employed as a unit but would distribute its platoons and sections to reinforce the line battalions.
The uniforming of machine gun companies generally followed regulations for the infantry, with the important exception of the company number on the shoulder straps. The number “13” clearly identified the wearers as members of this specialized unit and gave them a special status within the regiment.
With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the overwhelming importance of the machine gun for modern warfare quickly became apparent. The initially available six MGs per regiment proved completely insufficient, and production was massively increased. Organizational structures were adapted to wartime requirements, with the original conception of the 13th Company being abandoned in favor of a more decentralized distribution of machine guns down to battalion level.
These shoulder buttons thus document a transitional phase in military history, in which traditional organizational forms were combined with revolutionary weapons technology—a combination that would prove inadequate in the crucible of World War I and lead to fundamental changes in the tactics and structure of modern armies.
