3./Erg.Btl.Inf.Rgt.3 EKM (POW)

The tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows overall signs of wear. It belonged to a soldier who served within the 3.Ergänzungs-Bataillon Infanterie Regiment 3. This I.Ergänzungs-Bataillon of this regiment was formed in October 1936 Deutsch-Eylau and disciplinarily the battalion was subordinate to Infanterie Regiment 3. However in 1939 it fell under the command of Infanterie Ersatz Regiment 61. In August 1939 a large part of the bataillon was used to form the I.Bataillon Infanterie Regiment 176 which was part of the 61.Infanterie-Division. This division saw its first combat during the invasion of  Poland that took place in September 1939 and after that moved to the West to participate in the invasion of Belgium and then France. Later in June 1941 it participated in the fights in Russia. In December 1940, the I.Ergänzungs-Bataillon was used to form Infanterie Ersatz Bataillon 176 and was then disbanned.
The 'O' on both parts of the tag stands for the soldier's bloodtype. 

On the back the soldier carved in his POWnr. 'A9001988'