I picked this up in Germany back in the late 70's during my first assignment in the US Army. Would someone be able to identify the unit for me? Thanks in advance for any help or info provided?
I picked this up in Germany back in the late 70's during my first assignment in the US Army. Would someone be able to identify the unit for me? Thanks in advance for any help or info provided?
Hi MarkV, I don't know if it's just me, but if you posted a picture with your thread, it's not showing. You might try again.
The picture shows for me - can anyone else confirm that it is or isn't showing for them?
Mark,
Its' 1 Kompanie Infantry Replacement Batalion 355
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
This was probably the replacement unit for IR 355 part of the 214th infanterie Divison.
The gates of hell were opened and we accepted the invitation to enter" 26/880 Lance Sgt, Edward Dyke. 26th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers , ( 3rd Tyneside Irish )
1st July 1916
Thought shall be the harder , heart the keener,
Courage the greater as our strength faileth.
Here lies our leader ,in the dust of his greatness.
Who leaves him now , be damned forever.
We who are old now shall not leave this Battle,
But lie at his feet , in the dust with our leader
House Carles at the Battle of Hastings
Thank you, Paul!
A couple of other interesting things I can point out- the wear on the neck cord holes suggests it was worn for a good long time, the designation Infanterie means the disc was issued prior to 7.11.42 when it was officially changed to Grenadier.
As for the unit itself, here're the specifics:
Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 355
Created on 27.8.1939 through Landwehr-Kommandeur Hanau in Wetzlar/Lahn, Wehrkreis IX; 1.5.1940 moved to
Eisenach, 7.8.1942 moved to Gießen; 1.10.1942 split into Ersatz- and Reserve-Bataillon; redesignated
Grenadier-Ersatz-Bataillon 355 am 7.11.1942; disbanded30.6.1944.
Nominally provided replacement troops for the 214. Infanterie-Division.
Of course the truth is that replacements were sent where there was a need often enough.
Matt,
Thanks - that's great info. You've got a great eye for the wear marks - I never noticed that.
Interestingly, I picked this up when I was assigned to an artillary battalion in Hanau, FRG from '78-'81. Your organization note on creation of the unit mentions Hanau.
Again, thanks for the great info!
Mark
You bet Mark, glad you found it interesting. Unfortunately fakers have learned to try to add those wear marks, although they're usually not terribly convincing. People should be wary of using them as 'authenticity indicators', but they can be telling if real- it takes a while for a woven cord to wear through even aluminum, and also the patter will show the threading pattern (there were at least two) and if a chain was used. And it makes sense that you got it in Hanau- men usually joined or were conscripted to their local unit and it would seem this fellow didn't have far to go...
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