Authentic Erkennungsmarken ID ???

[1802marine]

Is this an authentic Erkennungsmarken ? This is my first and I understand these are easily faked. I have tried to research the disc and my best guess is that it is the Armee-Nachrichten-Regiment 558 (Army Signals (message) Regiment 558). The disc comes from the Kurland pocket area.
Any assistance or information about the disc and the regiment will be greatly appreciated. Also, are World War I discs routinely faked?
Thanks again!

[Matt L]

Sure, that one's an original Erkennungsmarke (-en is plural), and you have the 'translation' right; usually fakers stick to high-value stuff like SS, and although some regular army discs are done, they're not common. I've never seen a fake WWI disc myself- but they're not terribly valuable since there are far fewer collectors (than, say, WWII) and much of the time the markings are just personal information, so not 'famous' units or anything.

Here's the unit listing:

Armee-Nachrichten-Regiment 558

1. Creation:

* 26.8.1939 in Armeepaket S = Stuttgart, WK V; 1.12.1939 the III. Abteilung went to form III./Armee-
Nachrichten-Regiment 501 of the 16. Armee, 1.6.1940 newly-formed in WKII.
III. Abteilung; the 6. Kompanie became 10./Armee-Nachrichten-Regiment 520 on 20.3.1940 and a new 6. Kompanie formed on 17.4.1940; an 11. Kompanie was added on 1.7.1943; on 1.5.1944 the Stab I. Abteilung was disbanded, and the II. und III. became I. and II. Abteilung.


2. Elements:

1939 I. 1-2, II. 3-6, III. 7-10
1944 1. (Betrieb), 2. (Funk), I. 3-6, II. 7-10, 11 (Betrieb OQu)


3. Operations:

7. Armee Oberrhein Oberkommando der Truppen des Deutschen Heeres in Romania (21.4.1941) II.
Armee (22.6.1941): southern Russia, Krim, 1942 Leningrad Heeresgruppe Don (22.11.1942), later south and north Ukraine, A, Mitte: southern Russia, 1944 Ukraine, Poland, 1945 Silesia


4. Replacements:

5 Bad Cannstatt, WK V; III.: E 2 Stettin, Pasewalk, WK II

[Inf Div 121]

It is original there was found a lot of them

Here is two mine

[1802marine]

Many thanks to Matt and Inf Div 121! I appreciate your time and information.