Erkennungsmarke with questions..

[Hans Kristian]

Hi All,

I have this erkennungsmarke and in so far I believe that the ID plate in itself is original, but what about the two appendicis..?..what are they..?..and are they original..?..

Thanks in advance,

Hans Kristian

[OSS]

I have seen cases where additional items were added to the Erkennungsmarke cord. These appear to be a religious medal and a British tank badge.

[Hans Kristian]

Thanks OSS, yes the religious badge makes maybe sense as a lot of priests etc choose to be medics instead of regular soldiers.
But the tank badge is confusing, somehow it does not make sense...

[OSS]

My apologies, the tankers badge is South African in origin. I suspect this medic served in N. Africa and this is a souvenir perhaps with some personal significance.

[Hans Kristian]

My apologies, the tankers badge is South African in origin. I suspect this medic served in N. Africa and this is a souvenir perhaps with some personal significance.

Thanks OSS, seems definitely to be the same award just solid.

I was told, when I bought the little group, that they came from a Priest who was in Afrika - maybe true, but at the moment I did not really believe it as there was no evidence, no name, nothing.

Hans Kristian

[pauke]

A cleric serving as a medic makes good sense. One can only imagine that there might have been an encounter between the medic and perhaps a wounded opponent he treated and the badge was a poignant reminder of the moment.

[TWS]

That medic could have been clergy, but not necessarily. I think even more likely he was a religious layperson who wore the medallion as "divine protection" - like a good luck charm. A lot of soldiers carried small religious tokens or even a pocket bible into battle.