2.Stamm-Kp Gren.Ers.Batl.451 EKM

The dog tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows signs of wear. The soldier of the tag served in the 2.Stammkompanie Grenadier Ersatz Bataillon 451. The bataillon was formed in September 1939 in Gotha as Infanterie Ersatz Bataillon 451. This bataillon trained and supplied soldiers for the 251.Infanterie-Division.
In November 1942 the bataillon was renamed in to Grenadier Ersatz Bataillon 451. In March 1945 the ersatz bataillon was mobilized during the Leuthen-Bewegung as part of the Grenadier Ausbildungs Regiment 519. It marched to the Langenselboldt area (Frankfurt) on foot.
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 'A' on the tag stands for the bloodtype of the soldier.