St.Kp.Gren.Ers.Btl.512 EKM (Published)

The tag or 'Erkennungsmarke' shows overall normal signs of wear. It belonged to a soldier who served in the Stammkompanie Grenadier Ersatz Bataillon 512. This bataillon was formed in late December 1940 in Guben as Infanterie Ersatz Batiallon 512. It trained and supplied soldiers for Infanterie Regiment 512 (later Grenadier Regiment 512) which was part of the 293.Infanterie-Division. This divison saw its real first combat during the invasion of Russia in June 1941. It fought in areas like Gomel, Kiev, Brjansk, Kursk and Charkow. 

The 'O' on both parts of the tag stands for the soldier's bloodtype. 

A Stammkompanie was a unit that trained the soldiers. (Often the soldiers of this kompanie were soldiers who had frontline experience, but no longer were fully usable at the front due to injuries or had a lot of combat experience that was used to train others). Of course this changed later in the war as there was a shortage of (front)soldiers

This tag is published in the book 'Deutsche Erkennungsmarken' by Jean Höidal (page 332)