SS-Totenkopf EKM

[Dietrich Maerz]

Hello,

this is from a friend for me to post. Since I have no idea about this matter, I don't even know what to ask ...

Dietrich

[Adr]

SS-Panzerjager-Ersatz-Abteilung

which is Anti-tank replacement unit from W-SS. Nice stamping at the back side, first time I saw this kind of marking

[Dietrich Maerz]

So it tis a good one?!

Dietrich

[AJ]

I doubt it's a good one!
To me it looks like an original WH tag which has been totally ruined by adding a fake SS stamp?

[Prinz Eugen]

I doubt it's a good one!
To me it looks like an original WH tag which has been totally ruined by adding a fake SS stamp

I Agree with you. A really ugly work

[mr.dogtag]

It's indeed a good one. Totenkopf stamping on reverse is uncommon though.
Al

[fox-terier]

For me good one. But such kind Totenkopf stamping on reverse I see 1st time.
Regards,
Piotr

[AJ]

In my opinion, it just doesn't fit together!

The stamp "Totenkopf Verband" would refer to all Totenkopf Standarten which were renamed in 1939 when they were gathered into the Totenkopf Division!

As far as I know none of the Totenkopf Standarten had a Pz. Jäger Kompanie!!If the had, I seriously doubt they would have had more than 4053 recruits as the "Kriegsstammrollen Nummer" indicates, at time the time they were renamed into the SS Totenkopf DIvision in 1939!

I have and have seen several original SS Erkennungsmarken, NONE of them didn't have the SS stamped before their unit name!

If this tag should have been original, it should have been stamped
From 1939 : SS-Totenkopf-Panzerabwehr-Abteilung
From 1944: SS Panzerjäger-Abteilung 3

IMO it's an origional tag ruined with fake SS stamps!

[Gaspare]

I have one too from a dig in 1998 at Ukraine. I personally did not see it come from the ground, it was already in the bucket when I got there with other irems. But later I helped with the cleaning and they had found 4 or 5 of them and gave one to me.

Mine:
2. Pz. Jag. E. Abt. ,it has a 3 digit roll number and blood group stamped

Reverse has:
SS - TOTENKOPF ,and VERBAND underneath

all the fonts are a different style, non runic SS..

[mr.dogtag]

AJ,
You assume how the things should be. But there are a lot of exceptions.
There are a lot of examples of SS tags with no SS on obverse.
For example early SS-VT tags ( Nachrichten Ers.Abt., San.Ers.Abt, Pz.Abw.Ers.Abt, the one here, Most of LAH tags etc). I have a genuine early Stab/ LAH tag and there are no runes on obverse, but only SS-VT on reverse.
Recently I came across a genuine Handschar tag without any SS marking on obverse but also on reverse!
My explaination for this SS-TV stamping is that pre-stamped blanks were used perhaps because of lack of any other blanks. Simple as this.
Rgds.
Al

[Mike C]

I agree with AJ. There were no separate panzerjäger training units for the 3d SS Panzer Division - just as there were no separate panzer, panzergrenadier, artillery, reconnaissance, signals (and so on) training units for one division out of over thirty....this would have made no sense from a force generation perspective. The two Waffen SS (not TK) panzerjäger training units were:

SS-Panzerjäger-Ausbildungs- und Ersatz-Abteilung 1 (motZ) (Rastenburg/ Ostpreuβen)
SS-Panzerjäger-Ausbildungs-Abteilung 2 (Leer/ Ostfriesland)

Recruit personnel would complete their training at one of these units and then be sent to a unit - to include the TK division.

Note also that the two unit names above included SS in their title - which suggests that this is a EKM from an army unit.

My opinion for what it is worth...

Mike

[mr.dogtag]

Here are some examples:

[mr.dogtag]

Mike,
Nobody says this is a Totenkopf Pz.Jaeger replacement unit.
It's just an example of using some "Totenkopf" pre-stamped blank by SS-Pz.Jag.Ers.Abt.
That's it and it's nothing that would discriminate this tag of being authentic.
SS-Verfugungstruppe pre-stamped blanks were used by units that never were a part of SS-VT and long after SS-VT became W-SS.
Here is a half of 3./Pz.Jag.E.Abt. with W-SS stamping on reverse. Obviously coming from a later period.






Regards
Al

[AJ]

I still don't believe they would use a pre-fabricated Totenkopf tag in any other unit that in a Totenkopf unit!
It just doesn't make sence! Never heard they were in need of unisued Erkennungsmarken during the war!

[mr.dogtag]

Well I can disscuss only facts. The matter of one's faith it's out of my range.
German army was in short of many things including also blank tags sometimes. There are hundreds of examples for Ersatzmarken stamped on POW blanks, self made blanks, made of different material including plastic, brass etc. In POW camps paperboard, paper, wood and sometimes army blanks were used in case of shortage of proper tags.
Al