WW2 German Waffen SS Back. Kp. E mot. 121 SS Identification Tag (Original)
SKU: 322
Original/Reproduction: Original
Availability: In-stock
Manufacturer: N/A
Date Issued: 1940's
Model: BACK KP E MOT 121 SS
Size / Dimensions: approximately 70mm x 50mm
Materials / Construction: Zinc
Condition: Very Good
Price: $300.00
Seller Type: WW2C
Seller ID: JMW
Seller Code: 25
Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Description
This is an original World War II German SS identification tag (Erkennungsmarke) issued to a soldier assigned to Back. Kompanie E (Ersatz) motorisiert 121, a motorized replacement unit within the Waffen-SS. The tag is constructed from zinc, as was typical for mid-to-late war production, and features stamped unit designation along with a personal roll number.
- Inscription: “Back. Kp. E mot. 121 SS”
- Translation: Bakup Kompanie Ersatz motorisiert 121, SS
- Purpose: Identified the soldier and his unit for administrative and casualty tracking
- Design: Oval disc with three holes (two for suspension, one for breaking in half upon death)
- Material: Zinc
- Markings: Includes unit designation and a unique personal number below
This type of tag would have been worn around the neck and was intended to be broken in half if the soldier was killed—one half staying with the body, the other taken for records. The “mot.” designation indicates motorized transport capability, often essential in SS field units. A rare and historically significant artifact reflecting the logistical structure of the Waffen-SS during WWII.
History
During World War II, German soldiers were issued identification tags (commonly called Erkennungsmarken), which served as essential tools for identifying the wounded or dead on the battlefield. Members of the Waffen-SS Panzer divisions — the armored elite of Nazi Germany’s paramilitary SS forces — carried distinct versions of these tags, reflecting their unique units and roles.
