Opinions on a Dawg Tag...

[Skip Pickett]

Hello All:

I just picked up this ID disk in a group of stuff a collector got in Europe a few years ago. In that group was a fake EK-1 (I bought the lot knowing some of the stuff was junk). I don't trust my judgement on things I don't know well.

Is this thing real?

Thanks!
Skip

[Skip Pickett]

?

Oh, and what does it tell us about his unit, etc. I assume the "A" is for blood type "A"?

In case it is not clear enough, it reads:

554 A
11. / G.J.E.R. 138

[Matt L]

Hi Skip,

Initially I can't see anything suspicious, but then it is a angle shot and it's out of focus slightly. The unit would be 11. Kompanie, Gebirgsjäger Ersatz Regiment 138, which was a real unit, and it is properly denoted on the disc. '554' would be the soldier's Stammrollennummer (roster number) and you're right that 'A' was his blood group.

A clear, straight-on image would be necessary to really be able to determine the authenticity of this disc (or at least the liklihood).

Matt

[Skip Pickett]

Another Pic...

Here is another, clearer shot.

Thanks!

[Matt L]

Hi Skip,

Yeah, that's better- I still see nothing suspicious, it actually looks pretty good to me (without actually having held it of course ). One thing I can't see is whether or not there is any wear around the neck cord holes- is there? Since there's a blood group letter on it, it was issued, and the amount of wear would be an indicator of how long it was worn.

It's actually a pretty nice disc- if you hadn't just bought it yourself, I'd make you an offer

I'll post unit info for you later tonight (unless someone beats me to it). I can tell you that the 11. Kompanie was a regular rifle company in the III. Bataillon- of course that doesn't preclude this soldier having moved around once he reached the field (or the mountain, in this case I suppose )

Matt

[Matt L]

Here's the unit info:

Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Regiment 138

1. Aufstellung:
* 24.2.1940 in Graz, Wehrkreis XVIII, durch Umbenennung des am 26.8.1939 dort errichteten
Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Regiments 3; 15.5.1941 nach Marburg/Drau verlegt; 10.4.1943 Gebirgsjäger-
Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Regiment 138; Reserve-Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 138 seit 1.11.1943 und nach
Tolmezzo in Norditalien verlegt; dann in Istrien bei Fiume; wurde März 1945 Gebirgsjäger-Regiment
903 (nicht 1138, wie in der Feldpostübersicht).

2. Gliederung:

1940 GJgEB I./138 Leoben, II./138 Admont
1943 RGJgB I./138 Gemona, II./138 Tarvis


In case you don't read German I'll summarize the important parts- the unit was created on 24.2.1940 in Graz, Austria, by the redesignation of Gebirgsjäger-Ersatz-Regiment 3. It was redesignated itself as Gebirgsjäger-
Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Regiment 138 on 10.4.1943 (so yours was issued before that). It actually existed in two parts- I./138, and II./138- because yours isn't marked to one specifically, it would be I./138.

Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 138 was part of the 3. Gegbirgsdivision, and you can see charts of their areas of operation at http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...onen/3GebD.htm

Matt

[Skip Pickett]

Wow!

Matt: Thanks for the info! I appreciate your efforts.

Yes, there is a little bit of wear from a cord, but not a lot.

Thanks again!

Skip

[Chris Stewart]

Looks good to me as well Skip.