I.D Tag Translation

[aussie jason]

Hello all
Would anyone be ablt to "Translate" the writing on this I.D tag for me

AB
1.stammkp.I.G.J.E.Btl.137
4085

All help is greatly appreciated

Kindest Regards
Jason

[Ian Thomson]

Hi Jason, cant figure out what the "I" is, the rest could be 1st Stammkp, 137th Gebirgsjager Ersatz Batallion, unless the "I" is just for Infantry but that doesn`t sound correct, and dont think thats a standard abbreviation on tags.

Cheers
Ian

[aussie jason]

Thanks for your help, this one is a bit confusing

[Matt L]

Hi Jason,

Ian got it right on except that the extra numbers are quite correct- they simply indicate that there was more than one Stammkompanie (so there was at least a 2. Stammkompanie) and more than one Gebirgsjäger Ersatz Bataillon 137. In this case there was a I./ G.J.E.B 137, and a II./ G.J.E.B. 137.The former was created in Salzburg (WK XVIII) on 26.8.1939, and the latter in Kufstein (WK XVIII) on 25.2.1941. The soldier who once carried your disc belonged to the first unit, which supplied replacement troops for the units of the 2. Gebirgsdivision. As of 1944, it supplied the 5. Gebirgsdivision. I can also tell you that your disc had to be issued some time after 24.2.1940 because it was after this date that the unit was designated I./ Gebirgsjäger Ersatz Bataillon 137- previously it was simply Gebirgsjäger Ersatz Bataillon 137 (no I.)

You can find a list of the units in the 2. and 5. Gebirgsdivisionen, respectively, on these web pages:

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...onen/2GebD.htm

http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/.../5GebDiv-R.htm

I hope this helps.

Matt

[aussie jason]

Thanks Matt and Ian !!!
It is great to actualy know some of the history of this item
I have been trying with no luck to find info on this with very little luck so thanks so much for the assistance

Kindest Regards
Jason

[Matt L]

Any time

Oh, and just to be completely clear, the references say GJEB 137 supplied the 2. and 5. Gebirgsdivisionen usually- that doesn't mean for certain that the soldier who wore your disc was actually in any of the units in these Divisionen. Soldbuch and Wehrpaß information shows that while replacement troops did often go to the units expected, that's not always the case. Even when they did, later soldiers were often transferred around, went to different places after convalescing (if wounded), etc. Men also changed jobs- I know of one Soldbuch that shows the soldier trained in a Gebirgsjäger Ersatz Bataillon, but ended up as a driver in a Kraftfahr unit. So, any list of units is only a possibility unless more is known about a disc- where it was found (if applicable), to whom it belonged (if known), etc.

Matt

[aussie jason]

Thanks
Umfortunately all i know about this tag is whats written on it But all the info you have given tells a pretty good idea of where he may have gone and attleast we know he was trained as a mountain trooper.

Kindest regards
Jason

[Matt L]

Yup, you're quite right- I know nothing about most of the discs in my collection and it's just fine to have basic unit information.

I'm glad we were able to help.

Matt