Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a genuine German WWII SS Erkennungsmarke (identity disc or Dog Tag), used to identify soldiers in the field. These were made of plated steel, aluminum, or zinc, and were designed so that if a soldier died, the bottom half of the tag would be broken off, while the other half remained with their body.

This example is an early example, and has the same unit marking on both halves, which is also on both sides of the tag. The front side reads:

while the rear reads:

Na.  E.  Abt.
1274

This indicates the soldier was a member of the SS-Verfügungstruppe, which was the predecessor of the 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich. The other side indicates that they were part of the Nachrichtentruppe Ersatz Abteilung, or the "Signals Replacement / Emergency Battalion", which would have been formed on an as needed basis to replace wounded or lost soldiers.

Condition of the disc is very good, though there is definitely some oxidation on on the reverse where the unit markings are, which has pitted the material, making them a bit faint, but still legible. It is non magnetic, and looks to be made from zinc or some similar metal.

Ready to research and display!

The 2nd SS Panzer Division Das Reich (German: 2. SS-Panzerdivision "Das Reich") or SS Division Das Reich was an elite division of the Waffen-SS of NSDAP Germany during World War II, formed from the regiments of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT). The division served during the invasion of France and took part in several major battles on the Eastern Front, including in the Battle of Prokhorovka against the 5th Guards Tank Army at the Battle of Kursk. It was then transferred to the West and took part in the fighting in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, ending the war fighting the Soviets in Hungary and Austria. The division committed the Oradour-sur-Glane and Tulle massacres along with others on the Eastern Front.