BASICS: The "dog tag"

Is the identification tag of the Bundeswehr, a piece of German military symbolism or a lifesaver in times of need? At least all those who have "served" know it. The metal plate hanging on a chain, the identification tag. Colloquially, it is still simply called a "dog tag."

Here are some general information about this so typical for the soldier profession:

The shape itself is older, even the German soldiers in World War II had a similar tag. The material is not the same, and the engravings, the entries, have also changed.

Here are fields 1 to 10 with the information specified in the VMBl 2007 No. 1, page 21ff.

Field 1: Specified by the Federal Ministry of Defence.

Field 2: Nationality DEU for Germany

Field 3: E (Protestant) K (Catholic) O (Christian Orthodox) ISL (Islam) JD (Jewish)

Field 4: Personal identification number

Field 5: Blood type (A/B/AB or 0)

Field 6: Rhesus factor (Rh+ or Rh-)

Fields 7 to 10: These are also labeled only by the BMVg.

Fields 5 and 6 are just a reference, the exact blood type data is stored in the vaccination card and the G card.

Other nations also have identification tags for their soldiers, often also known as "Dog Tag."

– Carsten Dombrowski –

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