Original Item: One-of-a-kind. Genuine German WWII Luftwaffe Fallschirmjäger Motor Training identity disc (aka; Dog Tag) Erkennungsmarke, 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 made of stamped zinc and definitely shows wear and oxidation due to age, with scaling around the edge. It is marked as follows on both sides:

"3706" is the soldier's ID number, and "53398" is the Luftwaffe Mobilierungs Nummer (Luftwaffe mobilization number) for 3. / Fallschirmjäger Kraftfahrer Ausbildung Abteilung, Helmstedt (3rd Company, Paratrooper Motor Training Department, Helmstedt). This was a unit responsible for training drivers in the Luftwaffe, most likely to carry personnel and supplies to the many air bases located throughout Germany and the occupied countries in Western Europe. There looks to have been four companies in this unit, including the staff company, however we have not been able to find out what larger unit it was part of.

Definitely some great research potential in this dog tag!