"-639-4.Mg.Ers.Kp.J.R. 85" - what unit?

[A.H. Thomassen]

Dear gents.

In my studies of the 3. SS-and Police Company i've been informed by WASt that the Companys only loss was wearing the following dogtag inscription:

"-639-4.MG.Ers.Kp.J.R. 85"

This has however nothing to do with the inscriptions i've normally seen on dogtags from soldiers of the 3. SS-and Police Company.

Has anyone some good explanations why the soldier in question has been provided with this dogtag inscription? Bear in mind that parts of the Company was engaged in actual combat with allied forces in Finnmark and Northern parts of Troms in 1945, and could this be the reason why some soldiers were equipped with "decoy" dogtags in case they were KIA? Or could the reason be as simple as a "hick-up" when they buried him?

I would also be very interested to know the basic outline of this unit.

This is really an important question for me to get some answers on, so any comments on this one would be greatly appreciated


AH
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[Simon O.]

First thing that springs to mind is that he was transferred from the Heer or that the unit included Heer personnel because IIRC The activities of this unit included a Front Aufklärungs Truppe. I'll have to dive into the books when i get home.

In any case the tag reflects the soldiers unit in basic training.

[A.H. Thomassen]

Thanks Simon for your informative input on this one.

I hope you'll be able to help me out on this one, especially since the person in question was the only loss in 3. SS- and Police Company, and his death is still shrouded in mystery regarding if he was KIA or died of a sickness in march 1945 - both theories according to veterans.

I can't figure out why he should be attached to some FAT-unit, since he was a part of 3. SS- and Police Company, and i have not heard of anybody else from the Company who was engaged in anything else than these different Jagdkommandos. On the other hand i know of at least one person from 1. police Company who later on got attached to the FAT-unit in Bod******248;. In general however next to nothing has been written about the FAT-units and their operations in Northern Norway, and Finland.

I'm really awaiting your reply on this one Simon, and i'll greatly appreciate any more comments which can help me get a little bit further concerning this rather special dogtag-numbering, and possible FAT-connection.


Arne Haakon

[Simon O.]

Well i really don't know much myself. If you have Tore Pryser's book 'Hitlers Hemmelige Agenter' then you know as much as me but it already seems as though you know more.

One thing is for sure and that's there's no direct link between the training unit on the dogtag and any unit operating in North Norway.

As you say very little has been written about the FAK\FAT units, the SS or the activities of the MEK units.

[A.H. Thomassen]

Thanks for your reply on this one Simon.

Its really appreciated.

I guess i've just got to dig deeper into the dogtag-numbering and hopefully be able to unveil this mystery


Arne H