German Dog Tag Models 1869-1918
1869: The "Recognicierungsmarke" was the first type of dog tag to be officially introduced by the prussian army, most commonly associated with the franco prussian war ear, although it was used up until 1914, but by then in changed fashion (meaning slightly modified inscription since regiment names changed over time) it always has a rolled edge and 2 holes at the top, it can be made out of stamped steel or less commonly brass.
1875: The dog tag of the german army used between 1875-1915 its material can be zink or less commonly brass, it is recognizable due to small square shape, having either 1 or 2 holes, the holes on these can be reeinforced with small brass rings although that is just on some of these tags, brass in general on these dog tags is indicative of an early blank.
1878: This type of dog tag was used by the german army between 1878-1915 its material is usually zink or less commonly brass or aluminium, it is recognizable due to small ovate shape, it has 2 holes either both at the top or one on each side of the tag, like on the 1875 tags brass is inidcative of an earlier use while aluminium is certainly WW1. This pattern is the most commonly seen pattern of dog tag in the Imperial German Navy.
1915: The first wartime introduced dog tag of the german soldier, this tag was also the first to feature on large numbers of tags the name and date of birth of each soldier, often also having still replacement units on the dog tag later in the field crossed out. These tags were introduced as the labor required to identify fallen on the field with the earlier dog tags was too much hassle with just units and numbers, these made it possible for every german soldier to identify his fallen comrade.
1916, 1st type: The 1916 tackled the next issue after the 1915 pattern, the confirmation of the war dead. Some units started to include break lines on their tags having all information on both halves, these were modified 1915 pattern dog tags, this made it possible to always have one half stay with the soldier and the other to go to the proper authorities to confirm his death, inform the family, setup the burial and cross him out of regimental lists. These tags have a breaking point and information on both halves on them, they usually dont feature a collecting hole on the bottom half. Also on some tags the bottom half can be smaller than the top half.
1916, 2nd type: The first regular produced Break in half dog tags by now the german high command approved of a field made change some units did and introduced it fully, they may or may not feature a collecting hole on the bottom half usually if the bottom half has one its on the side of the bottom half. Otherwise the tag is still the same than the previous model.
1917: The tags got a little bigger leaving more space for information and the bottom has now a centered factory made collecting hole. Otherwise the tags are the same as the 1916 pattern. This would be the last change, the tags would stay like this till the end of the war in 1918.
This model would be the basis for the German Reichswehr dog tags between the world wars and the basis for the dog tag of the German Army in WW2.
It is noteworthy that material and construction are examples of the most likely encoutered dog tags of the Imperial German Army, exeptions do exist and private purchase officer dog tags for example have no reason to follow the rules stated above at all.
1875: The dog tag of the german army used between 1875-1915 its material can be zink or less commonly brass, it is recognizable due to small square shape, having either 1 or 2 holes, the holes on these can be reeinforced with small brass rings although that is just on some of these tags, brass in general on these dog tags is indicative of an early blank.
1878: This type of dog tag was used by the german army between 1878-1915 its material is usually zink or less commonly brass or aluminium, it is recognizable due to small ovate shape, it has 2 holes either both at the top or one on each side of the tag, like on the 1875 tags brass is inidcative of an earlier use while aluminium is certainly WW1. This pattern is the most commonly seen pattern of dog tag in the Imperial German Navy.
1915: The first wartime introduced dog tag of the german soldier, this tag was also the first to feature on large numbers of tags the name and date of birth of each soldier, often also having still replacement units on the dog tag later in the field crossed out. These tags were introduced as the labor required to identify fallen on the field with the earlier dog tags was too much hassle with just units and numbers, these made it possible for every german soldier to identify his fallen comrade.
1916, 1st type: The 1916 tackled the next issue after the 1915 pattern, the confirmation of the war dead. Some units started to include break lines on their tags having all information on both halves, these were modified 1915 pattern dog tags, this made it possible to always have one half stay with the soldier and the other to go to the proper authorities to confirm his death, inform the family, setup the burial and cross him out of regimental lists. These tags have a breaking point and information on both halves on them, they usually dont feature a collecting hole on the bottom half. Also on some tags the bottom half can be smaller than the top half.
1916, 2nd type: The first regular produced Break in half dog tags by now the german high command approved of a field made change some units did and introduced it fully, they may or may not feature a collecting hole on the bottom half usually if the bottom half has one its on the side of the bottom half. Otherwise the tag is still the same than the previous model.
1917: The tags got a little bigger leaving more space for information and the bottom has now a centered factory made collecting hole. Otherwise the tags are the same as the 1916 pattern. This would be the last change, the tags would stay like this till the end of the war in 1918.
This model would be the basis for the German Reichswehr dog tags between the world wars and the basis for the dog tag of the German Army in WW2.
It is noteworthy that material and construction are examples of the most likely encoutered dog tags of the Imperial German Army, exeptions do exist and private purchase officer dog tags for example have no reason to follow the rules stated above at all.