10./Inf.Rgt.178 Erkennungsmarke

The tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows signs of wear. It belonged to a soldier who served in the 10.Kompanie Infanterie Regiment 178. It was formed in August 1939 and fell under the 76.Infanterie-Division. I saw its first action during the invasion of Luxembourg and then France in May/June 1940. In July 1940 it moved to Poland. In the Spring of 1941 it was put into action in Rumania and in July it participated in Operation Barbarossa. It fought in areas like Jassy, Artemowsk, Donbogen Stalingrad where it was destroyed. The Regiment was renamed into Grenadier Regiment 178 in October 1942.
After it was destroyed in January 1943 in Stalingrad, it was rebuild again in April of that year in France. It moved via Italy to the Eastern front again in where it saw action in areas like Kriwoi-Rog, Jassy, Debreczen and Hungary. It surrendered in May 1945 in Sillein.
The 'A' on both sides stands for the soldiers bloodtype.