Hammerstein

[kindzjal]

I would like to show two interesting pieces of POW ID discs from Hammerstein:

[Matt L]

I'm curious- how do you know the WWI disc is a POW ID? I've had one of the earlier small discs marked 'Ulm' '11834B' in my collection for a long time and I've always wondered about it- I expected it was a type prior to the use of regimental records and was just a city register instead, but really had no idea...

[kindzjal]

Those with only a placename and a number are allways POW's.
Second, all Hammerstein POW dog tag's have been found in the POW compound.

[Matt L]

Ah, okay- is there any actual evidence though? Something like there was only a huge POW camp there, so it couldn't be anything else? Or there are records or anecdotal evidence (from actual prisoners, for example) that says this type of disc was issued to POWs? Circumstantial reasons are useful in the absence of any other explanation, but aren't exactly conclusive; my Ulm disc was found in eastern Europe on old battlefields so has no such circumstantial association.