Germany - Third Reich: German Army Complete Identity Disc (Erkennungsmarke) for a soldier serving with a Mixed Mortar Training Company (Motorised) in a Grenadier Replacement and Training Battalion with Grenadier Replacement and Training Regiment 523. Zinc form, stamped on one side on both halves: ‘GEMGRWAUSBKPMOT’ and ‘G.E.U.A.B. 523.’ and ‘321.’, whilst the reverse appears to be plain. As worn by a serviceman in a Grenadier Ersatz und Ausbildungs Bataillon. The unit abbreviation on this disc indicates an identity disc issued post August 1944, and this unit was ultimately mobilised in January 1945, and fought against the Soviets in April 1945 in the area of Beeskow.
Condition: with some very light and expected corrosion to zinc faces, overall Good Very Fine Condition with details clear.
‘GEMGRWAUSBKPMOT’, also found on identity discs as ‘Gem.Gr.W.Ausb.Kp.mot’, and stands for Gemischte Granatwerfer Ausbildungs Kompanie (motorisiert) which translates as Mixed Mortar Training Company (motorized).
‘G.E.U.A.B.’ is the abbreviation for Grenadier Ersatz und Ausbildungs Bataillon, a Grenadier Replacement and Training Battalion, the battalion number being ‘523’ and the other number ‘321’ is that of the serviceman, the individual roster number (Rollennummer) of the specific person to whom the disc was issued.
The wearer of this disc was therefore serving with a Mixed Mortar Training Company (Motorised) in a Grenadier Replacement and Training Battalion with Grenadier Replacement and Training Regiment 523. This unit, known in German as Grenadier-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Regiment 523, was originally formed in October 1942 as Infantry Replacement Regiment 523 in the Berlin-Spandau area as part of Military District III. The regiment was established as the headquarters for the replacement battalions of the former 153rd Division remain in the district. It was redesigned Grenadier Replacement Regiment 523 in November 1942, and by the summer of 1943 included various Grenadier Replacement Battalions and supplying newly trained troops to the 463rd Division. In August 1944 is was retitled as the Grenadier Replacement and Training Regiment 523. In January 1945, the regiment was mobilised under the Gneisenau Call and transferred to Position C near Posen in Military District XXI . In late March 1945, the regiment, with 2,800 men, was transferred to Beeskow in Military District III , as part of the Leuthen call-up. Beeskow was captured by the Soviet advance in late April 1945.
