Stm.Nlbwerf.Ers.Abt.2 Erkennungsmarke (Holland)

The dog tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows signs of wear. The abteilung was formed in January 1940 in Bremen as Nebel Ersatz Abteilung 2. It trained soldiers for different Nebelwerfer Regiments, Abteilungen and Entgiftungs Abteilungen. In Ocotober 1942 the abteilung was renamed in Werfer Ersatz Abteilung 2 and in April 1943 in Schwere Werfer E&A. Abt.2. In September 1944 the abteilung became part of Nebel Ersatz Regiment 1 and was part of the Einsatz-Division Nr.180 with a total of 1162 men and moved to the Niederrhein area. On the 18th of September the division was mobilized and sent to Arnhem and parts of the division were put in to action against the Allies. These units were later used to form the 180.Infanterie-Division and where stationed and fought in the Venlo area in late 1944/ early 1945.

The Ersatz und Ausbildung Abteilungs 2 was reformed again in November 1944 in Königsbrück. In April 1945 the abteilung was mobilized and became part of Werfer Ausbildungs Regiment 1 .which was just formed and was part of Division Nr.404 and fought against the Russians.

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.
The EKM is broken, but complete.
Interesting dog tag of a hard to find branche.