St.Kanzl.Kav.Ers.Abt.100 Erkennungsmarke

The dog tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows signs of wear. It belonged to a soldier who served/was drafted in the Stamm-Kanzlei Kavallerie Ersatz Abteilung 100. The abteilung was formed in December 1943 in Lüneberg was part of Division.180. In September 1944 the ersatz abteilung was mobilized and moved to the Netherlands and was put into action during Operation Market Garden. They got surrounded by the Allies and finally taken prisoner by the Americans.

A new Kavallerie Ersatz Abteilung 100 was formed in late September 1944 in Lüneberg which was renamed Kavallerie Ersatz Abteilung 20 in december 1944. Soon after Aufklärungs-Ersatz- und Ausbildungs-Abteilung 14 was used to form a new Kavallerie-Ersatz-Abteilung 100. The newly formed unit was put into action in the Stargard area (Poland). The abteilung was well equipped with the SturmGewehr44 and the MG42. It saw some fierce combat in the last months of the war. 
The 'O' on both parts of the tag stands for the soldier's bloodtype.

Interesting dog tag of a unit with a rich history.