ID disc help

[nutmeg]

Picked up an oval ID disc from the estate of a local veteran who was KIA in Italy. He sent this along with a helmet and other small items home before his death and I got them from the family.

The disc reads on both sides: 1173/ 1.STAMM/G.E.A.BTL.I/131. also an "O" which I assume is the blood type. Any help with IDing this unit would be appreciated! o

[Matt L]

Hi,

The 'translation' of your disc is: '1. STAMM' stands for 1st Stammkompanie (1st root company), 'G.E.A.BTL' stands for Grenadier Ersatz und Ausbildungs Bataillon (Grenadier Replacement and Training Battalion)- the 'I/131' is a little confusing though; usually two Arabic numbers separated by a slash indicate the Kompanie/Bataillon, and in this case it's definitely Bataillon 131, but the 'I' is odd. Roman numerals are used to denote Bataillone in a Regiment i.e. I. Grenadier Regiment 131 is the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Regiment 131. In this case, the 'I' is out of place- especially since the Kompanie is already denoted at the beginning of the marking. It is the case that sometimes both the Kompanie and Bataillon are indicated on a disc, but I've only ever seen this on those marked to Regiments. You're correct that the 'O' is this soldier's blood group.

Ersatz Bataillon 131 probably supplied replacements to Grenadier Regiment 131 (although sometimes they supplied several field units), which did serve in Northern Italy in 1943 as part of the 44. Infanterie Division. Of note is that since the unit is 'Grenadier' Ersatz und Ausbildungs Bataillon 131, there are two reasons we know that this particular soldier entered service in late 1942 or early-mid 1943: 1) All 'Infanterie', 'Jäger', and 'Gebirgsjäger' units were redesignated 'Grenadier' in October 1942, and Infanterie/Grenadier Regiment 131 was destroyed in Stalingrad in January 1943 with the 44. Infanterie Division. Hitler ordered the recreation of all units lost, so Grenadier Regiment 131 was reestablished and was in Belgium during April 1943 and fought in North Italy in August.

Hope this helps!

Matt

[nutmeg]

Matt,


Thank you very, very much, I really appreciate your help. You are a scholar and a gentleman!

[Matt L]

Indeed you are quite welcome!

[Matt L]

I've just learned something more about your disc nutmeg- apparently the unit's designation is fairly unique; Normally there was only a single replacement bataillon of a given number, but in the case of yours, the Roman numeral 'I' befor the 131 actually does mean that it was the first of two.

1. Stammkompanie Grenadier Ersatz bzw. Ausbildungs Bataillon I/131 was created on 7.11.42 and there was a Grenadier Ersatz bzw. Ausbildungs Bataillon II/131 created at the same time. The 'bzw.' (meaning 'and/or') is an odd designation- usually it's 'Ersatz und Ausbildungs'.

The fact that it's specifically the 1st Stammkompanie (suggesting there was more than one) is also odd- it's uncommon to have more than one- and even moreso since there were already 2 Batallione!

Matt

[nutmeg]

Very interesting, thank you once again!!!

[JimM]

I've just learned something more about your disc nutmeg- apparently the unit's designation is fairly unique; Normally there was only a single replacement bataillon of a given number, but in the case of yours, the Roman numeral 'I' befor the 131 actually does mean that it was the first of two.

1. Stammkompanie Grenadier Ersatz bzw. Ausbildungs Bataillon I/131 was created on 7.11.42 and there was a Grenadier Ersatz bzw. Ausbildungs Bataillon II/131 created at the same time. The 'bzw.' (meaning 'and/or') is an odd designation- usually it's 'Ersatz und Ausbildungs'.

The fact that it's specifically the 1st Stammkompanie (suggesting there was more than one) is also odd- it's uncommon to have more than one- and even moreso since there were already 2 Batallione!

Matt

Not really unique Matt, just unusual. I have two tags marked that way:
1./ INF. ERS. I/482, which was in Ers. Regt. 131 and 177th Inf. Division
and Stamm Kp. J. E. B. I/486, in Ers. Regt. 462 and the 187th Inf. Division
both were from Wkr. XVII, and both divisions were infantry replacement depot divisions.

JimM

[Matt L]

Not really unique Matt, just unusual. I have two tags marked that way:
1./ INF. ERS. I/482, which was in Ers. Regt. 131 and 177th Inf. Division
and Stamm Kp. J. E. B. I/486, in Ers. Regt. 462 and the 187th Inf. Division
both were from Wkr. XVII, and both divisions were infantry replacement depot divisions.

JimM

Indeed yes, I discovered that I too have a disc marked to what could be called a 'sub-Bataillon'- ('unique' was someone else's word- perhaps he meant the 'bzw' designation...).