3/Inf.Ers.Btl. Z.B.V. Rheine EKM (Fremdenlegionäre)

The dog tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows normal signs of wear. It belonged to a soldier who served in the '3.Kompanie Infanterie Ersatz Bataillon Z.B.V. Rheine. This bataillon was formed in May of 1941. It consisted out of former French Foreign Legionairs and was used to form Afrika Regiment 361 in June 1941. The bataillon in Rheine trained and supplied soldiers for the II.Bataillon of this regiment. In July it became part of the 90.Leichte Afrika-Division and moved to Afrika. It fought during the battle of El Alamein and later Tunesia.In Juli 1942 the regiment was renamed in to Panzer-Grenadier-Regiment 361. It was destroyed in Tunesia.
The regiment was reformed again in July 1943 on the island of Corsica and was part of the 90.Panzer Grenadier-Division. It fought in areas like Adria,Monte Cassino,Rome,Rimini,Bologna and Po.
The 'O' on the tag stands for the bloodtype of the soldier.