Grave Marker?

[harrison987]

Found this in germany...seems to have been ripped off something. Is this possible it was a temporary grave marker??? Fake?

[CWP]

It is from a grave marker and probably was replaced with a permanent marker or was just discarded. It is unlikely to be fake.

[corporalSteiner]

are there/were there many 40 year old serving lance corporals?ive no idea.

[CWP]

The average age of the German Heer in 1943 was 31.5. Of the 4.27 million soldiers in the Heer in December 1943, more than 1.5 million (more than 35 percent) were above the age of 34. By May 1944, many people previously not considered unsuitable for front-line service had been pressed into combat units. These Ersatzheer call-ups were generally older than typical draftees.

[corporalSteiner]

The average age of the German Heer in 1943 was 31.5. Of the 4.27 million soldiers in the Heer in December 1943, more than 1.5 million (more than 35 percent) were above the age of 34. By May 1944, many people previously not considered unsuitable for front-line service had been pressed into combat units. These Ersatzheer call-ups were generally older than typical draftees.

nice specific information! thanks for that, chris.