Fallschirm.Fla.M.G.Btl. Erkennungsmarke

The tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows overall normal signs of wear. The number '53402' means that the soldier could have served in 3 different Fallschirmjäger units, because the number refers back to the 1.Kompanie/Fallschirmjäger Fla.M.G. Bataillon, 17.Kompanie Fallschirmjäger Ausbildungs Regiment 1 and  13.Kompanie Fallschirmjäger Ersatz und Ausbildungs Regiment 1.

The Fallschirmjager Fla.M.G.Bataillon was formed in the early summer of 1940 from the 1.Kompanie leichte Flak Abteilung 106. It was stationed in Halberstadt, but moved in late 1940 to Quedlinburg. The 1 and 4 company of the bataillon participated in the invasion of Crete. After that there is no more information about the companies, but they probably were send to Russia. The other companies saw combat in Tunesia, Afrika and later also in Russia.

Fallschirmjäger Ausbildungs Regiment 1 was formed in 1942 as Fallschirmjäger Ergänzungs Regiment 1 and was later in that year renamed. In 1943 it moved to Bar le Duc, France. In March 1944 it was renamend into Fallschirmjäger Ersatz und Ausbildungs Regiment 1 and after the Allied invasion it withdraw from France and was demobilized. It was then rebuild again in early 1945 and put into action on the Oder front.