Unknown unit..

[Chris Stewart]

I was wondering if anyone can find any information on the following unit:

4/PZ.A.R.38 - or anything Panzer Artillery Regiment 38 related. Just want to verify a disc I have.

Thanks in advance,

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Chris, I did a quick search but could not find this regt listed. Nothing shows up here:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...Gliederung.htm

Cheers, Ade.

[Ian Jewison]

Hi Chris,

Same site but different area...http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...rtReg/AR38.htm

However the abbreviation you asked for would be:

4 Batterie, Panzer Artillerie Regiment 38.....

I can not find the reference to a "Panzer" Regiment 38!! 4 Bttr. would have been II Abteilung....this as you can see from the above link the unit was disbanded during 1942 and 4 Batterie became 2 Batterie of Heeres Flakartillerie Abteilung 284.
The Regiment was also independent of the other Abteilung and was Korpstruppe of the II Armeekorps.

I have also looked through my references and initially can not find any reference to a Pz.Art.Rgt. 38!!!

/Ian

[Chris Stewart]

Thank you Ade and Ian.

I had checked previously in Tessin, "Tessin on a cd" and the lexicon der Wehrmacht site and nothing.

Oddly, I don't think the tag looks like an obvious fake, but it does look kind of oddly stamped. I was already convinced it was fake, mainly because I could not find reference to the unit itself, but now I am quite sure, as none of you can find it either.

I'll post an image later tonight and let you guys judge its merit based on its looks.

Thanks again guys,

[Akira Takiguchi]

I'd hazard a guess it being Pz.Art.Rgt. 88, a famous one.

[Chris Stewart]

Akira,

Do you say that on the assumption that perhaps the disc is hard to read? I don't recall it being messy or hard to read, but I don't have it in front of me at this moment. I will double check it (and post an image later tonight here) to be sure when I get home.

Thank you,

[Chris Stewart]

Here is the image. It sure looks like a 38 to me!

[Ian Jewison]

Looks like a 38 to me as well!!!
Here is an inverted, sharper version......

[Chris Stewart]

Not the greatest picture I took, now is it? =)

[Ian Jewison]

Is it a mistake? Is it fake? Did it really exist and we can not find it?

Well I can not answer any of these..........I have provided all I can find on a unit II/Art.Rgt.38.....

The tag looks like he was a volunteer FRW.....however I would have expected it to be stamped Frw. for that!
His personal number appears to be 21, however it is lacking a blood group!?!?

Can you make out that area that has been crossed out?

Ian

[Chris Stewart]

Ian,

I thank you for the information on the unit.

It is stamped FRW and there is no bloodgroup stamp on it. The area crossed out says "L.H."

As for the FRW - I think it was often added on like that, in that it seems "tacked on". I'm assuming because this was probably often added in the field. I only have 1 other example of an FRW stamped disc, so I don't feel experienced enough to comment on this with any sort of authority.

It is more than just the unit designation that has me wondering about this disc, but I think that is the final straw for it

Is it a mistake? Is it fake? Did it really exist and we can not find it?

Well I can not answer any of these..........I have provided all I can find on a unit II/Art.Rgt.38.....

The tag looks like he was a volunteer FRW.....however I would have expected it to be stamped Frw. for that!
His personal number appears to be 21, however it is lacking a blood group!?!?

Can you make out that area that has been crossed out?

Ian