Stamm Komp./Gren.Ers.Btl.16 Erkennungsmarke (Venlo)

The dog tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows normal signs of wear. The Infanterie Ersatz Bataillon 16 was formed in the summer of 1939 and in November 1942 renamed in Grenadier Ersatz Bataillon 16. It supplied soldiers for 710.Infanterie-Division since the beginning of 1944. In early September the bataillon was moved to Holland and it became the I.Bataillon Grenadier Regiment 1221 which was part of 180.Infanterie-Division. In 1944 and 1945 it fought in the Venlo area. 
In late September Grenadier Ersatz Bataillon 16 was reformed again and supplied soldiers for the 180.Infanterie-Division. In early 1945 it also supplied soldiers for the 11.Infanterie-Division.

A Stammkompanie was a unit that trained the soldiers. Often the soldiers of this kompanie were soldiers who had frontline experience and/or where no longer fully usable on the front due to injuries. Of course this changed later in the war and they also where put into action as there was a shortage of (front)soldiers.