Dog Tag ID help needed.....

[Mike Dunn]

Hello--could someone tell me if this is WWI,WWII or none of the above. Thanks, Mike

[Matt L]

Hi Mike,

What you've got there is a nice original Wehrmacht Erkennungsmarke (identity disc) from the 9. Kompanie, Infanterie-Regiment 195 (9th Company of Infantry Regiment 195) which was part of the 78. Infanterie Division (78th Infantry Division). The soldier whose disc this was was blood group 'O', and his Stammrollennummer (roster number) was 2. What's more is that since it's marked with an actual field unit, and its quality is excellent, the soldier was likely already serving in the army at the outbreak of war. So it's a nice, early disc. It is indeed a beautiful example.

Matt

[Mike Dunn]

Matt=thank you very much! Mike

[Chris Stewart]

Mike,

As Matt pointed out: Great example of an infanterie tag!

Also to add to Matt's info, a roster number of 2 would usually indicate a soldier of pretty high ranking in that kompanie.

[Matt L]

Hi Mike,

No problem- happy to help. Chris could be right, although it is the case that the highest ranking officer in a unit didn't always get number '1'. If the roster was alphabetical, the soldier who got number '2' could have been a cook!

Matt

[Chris Stewart]

Hi Mike,

No problem- happy to help. Chris could be right, although it is the case that the highest ranking officer in a unit didn't always get number '1'. If the roster was alphabetical, the soldier who got number '2' could have been a cook!

Matt

Haha, perhaps! I guess we will never know for sure =)