Although the original idea behind the invention of the weapon was its use in wars between European powers, in an ironic twist of fate, the first victims of the Maxim were not Europeans, but Africans. Uninformed African tribes tragically perished in the thousands due to their ignorance of the devastating power of the new machine gun.
In a single battle during the Matabele War of 1893 in what is now Zimbabwe, Maxim machine guns mowed down more than 1,600 warriors. The tribal leaders were so desperate due to the one-sided defeat that many committed suicide en masse by throwing themselves onto their spears.
British writer Hilaire Belloc best summarized the essence of the Maxim in 1898 when he remarked: “Whatever happens, we have got the Maxim gun, and they have not.” The psychological effect of the new weapon was more powerful than its actual firepower. With the arrival of the Maxim, warfare underwent significant changes. The new automatic machine gun technology generated tremendous firepower, increasing the lethality on battlefields around the world. The Maxim reached its full potential during the First World War.
Maxim Shapes the Great War
It was thanks to the Maxim that the Western Front became the bloodiest and most brutal theater of World War I. It earned the nickname “the machine gun war.” During the First World War, the Maxim and its variants became an indispensable weapon in every army. Machine gun fire became a decisive factor in the outcome of battles, and many soldiers could be eliminated within a short time due to carelessness or lack of knowledge.
On the trench-ridden Western Front, Maxim machine guns were essential for defending military positions while simultaneously increasing the mortality rate of soldiers during offensives. The fighting became even more brutal, especially for traditional infantry formations. Military strategies and tactics began to adapt to this new reality.
Military strategists started placing greater emphasis on troop cover, moving in smaller units, and using chemical weapons and other new technologies. Old tactics of open attacks or bayonet charges became very ineffective—and horrifying—for ordinary soldiers. Those running into the charge became mere cannon fodder. Wars became more complex and technologically sophisticated, with increased automation and mechanization of combat processes.
Various Versions of the Maxim
After the original Maxim machine gun, new variants were soon produced in multiple countries. One of the first versions was the Maxim-Nordenfelt of 1889, which combined Maxim’s machine gun technology with a new multi-barrel firing system, enabling greater firepower and combat efficiency. Maxim also developed the M1904 machine gun, intended for the Russian army. It was smaller and lighter than the original model and featured an improved cooling system.
The Americans experimented with the 1889 and 1900 models as possible infantry weapons. Testing lasted for some time before the Maxim was adopted in 1904 as the .30 caliber Model 1904. The Vickers machine gun was an improved version of the Maxim introduced in 1912 and used by the British. It was more reliable and resistant to harsh climate conditions. Germany adopted its own version of the Maxim in 1908—Maschinengewehr 08 or Maxim MG08, which became a favorite weapon of the Kaiser’s soldiers. It had a range of 3.5 kilometers. The Russians responded to the Germans with the PM M1910 machine gun.
Further Use
After World War I, Maxim machine guns continued to be used in various conflicts. They were used during the Russian Civil War (1917–1922), in which both sides relied on the Maxim due to its reliability and powerful effect. It was also used in colonial wars, such as conflicts in Africa and Asia, where European powers deployed the Maxim against local armies. In the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), both sides used versions of the Maxim.
The Maxim continued to see action on the battlefields of World War II and the Korean War, and it was used by at least 29 countries between 1886 and 1959. Gradually, in the second half of the 20th century, it was phased out of military service, replaced by more modern machine guns such as the American Browning M1919 or the Soviet PK machine gun, which were lighter, faster, and more efficient. Nevertheless, Maxim guns have continued to be used in some places to this day. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it was observed that both armies used these old machine guns. Some were technically modified, while others were used in their original form, depending on the conditions of the war.
Conclusion
The Maxim fundamentally changed warfare like few other weapons. War became more dangerous and terrifying, and the life of a foot soldier was never more expendable. Historians have long debated whether the Maxim killed more people than any other gun in history. While that theory is hard to prove or disprove, it is clear that the Maxim ranks among the deadliest weapons in history. As British historian John Ellis wrote in his famous work “The Social History of the Machine Gun”: “Without Hiram Maxim, much of world history might have been different.” In any case, without him, there would be no saying: “You’re firing like Maxim on a division.”
Author: Matija Šerić
Covered image: AI
