HISTORY. The ”Erkennungsmarke” (EK…..German Dog Tag) is were German organization when totally off the rails. Without a doubt, the most complex arrangement for identifying a soldier. The unit that is identified on the tag is the issuing unit, not the assigned unit. The individuals name never appears on the tag, just a number. The “Kompanie” = company keeps a list of identification tags, but if a body was found and you didn’t know which company the individual was part of, you had to go all the way to Berlin to identify the soldier. The complexity is so mind numbing, it makes for the perfect hobby to collect, research and identify the many identification tags.

Late war zinc construction. Very unique is multiple ways. One long slit through the axis of the tags, instead of three smaller slits. Individual ID # is a long series of numbers which may also include a unit. Unit designation” “D.V.” = Deutsche Volksstrum, translated, German People’s Storm Army. The Volksstrum was made up of 14 year old kids and 60 year old men. This was the last ditch effort by the Germans to prevent total defeat. Shows wear, but readable.

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