MG08
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The MG08 was the standard German heavy machine gun during World War I, based on the Maxim machine gun. Chambered in 7.92x57mm Mauser, it was water-cooled and belt-fed, capable of delivering sustained fire over long periods. It became one of the most iconic weapons of trench warfare.
Adopted by the German military in 1908, the MG08 played a key role in Germany's defensive strategies, particularly during battles such as Verdun and the Somme. Its high rate of fire and ability to be mounted on tripods or carts made it a formidable weapon against advancing infantry.
After World War I, the MG08 remained in limited service during World War II and was used by German forces, though it was largely replaced by lighter, air-cooled machine guns. The MG08 is remembered as one of the defining weapons of World War I and a symbol of the industrialization of warfare.
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Gallery
From Grapeshot to BAR's
A Firsthand View of the Trenches: Rommel's Infantry Attacks
Weapons of Imperial Germany Part 2
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