ID tag-WWI

[Karsten S]

This is mine.

I was wondering if it is an original Imperial id-disc and how common it is.

Thanks guys

Karsten

[Karsten S]

..

[Chip]

Hello Karsten,

Yes, this is a nice example of a WWI era Erkennungsmarke. This man would have been in the draft class of 1915. It is from a Hannoveran infantry regiment and thus would be a fairly common example. This pattern was most commonly worn earlier in the war and the script writing on the front side is a lesser seen variation.

Chip

[Karsten S]

Hello Karsten,

Yes, this is a nice example of a WWI era Erkennungsmarke. This man would have been in the draft class of 1915. It is from a Hannoveran infantry regiment and thus would be a fairly common example. This pattern was most commonly worn earlier in the war and the script writing on the front side is a lesser seen variation.

Chip

Thanks Chip for you help

Karsten

[Tony]

Chip,

Why a 1915 draft class? Were they called up at 20 years of age if they hadn't already volunteered?

Cheers

Tony

[Chip]

Normally, a man's draft class was the year of his twentieth birthday. Of course, during the war, the high losses and need for manpower caused classes to be called up earlier. The class of 1918 began being called up in September of 1916. Volunteers were allowed to do so as early as the age of 17.

Chip

[Tony]

Thanks for the info.

Tony