Help needed on engraving

[neilnitro]

Hi Forum,
I am aquiring a Dagger with the following etched onto it:-
"Z. BEF. am 14.1.41/ Gew. v. 4 zug d. 14/425".
i have been led to beleive its abbreviated for " to the commander on January 14, 1941, from the 4th platoon of 14/425. But not 100%. I'd appreciate all assistance in researching this dedication, does anybody have info on 14/425? is this a regiment?
any help is much appreciated, please PM or email me at Neilnitro@aol.com
regards Neil

[Denis]

Hello 14/425 might be 14 Kp. / Infanterie Regiment 425
I am not sure but 14 Coy is usually assigned to Panzerjäger.
Hope this helps
Regards
Denis

[Rick White]

What kind of dagger is it?

Rick

[neilnitro]

thanks so far,

Hi Rick and Dennis,
Rick the Dagger is a heer dagger,the person i am buying this from reckons it realtes to the 14th infantry regiment which was a motorised divsion in 1940, so Denis you may have something with it being panzerjager. i am also told this unit was involved in the Russian campaign for the battle of Vitebsk.Does anybody ahve any information on this battle at all? this might help me ascertain the units commander.
thanks for the help so far.

[Rick Research]

An army OFFICER'S dagger?

The inscription I'd read as "On promotion (Beförderung) 14.1.41 presented (gewidmet... dedicated) by the 4th platoon of 14th Company/425 Regiment (of whatever).

The fact that it is from a PLATOON (Zug) would seem to me to indicate it was to their NCO, presumably on being raised to "Portepee" status as an Oberfähnrich, maybe.

Officers were normally promoted on 1st of the month for seniority and pay. So again, the date suggests NCO to me.

[Gary T]

Infanterie Regiment 425 was part of 223. ID.

For a brief history of it's operations check
here

All promotions, from including all non-commissioned as well as officers, were dated from the first of the month.

[neilnitro]

many thnaks

Hi Gary and Rick,
many thanks for your input and replys, it has really helped me get a better idea about the dagger, much apprecaited.if anybody can help me further with the war time movements of thi regiment it would be apprecaited further.
best regards Neil