Seeking unit of Uffz Herbert Rollwege of II./JG53 during Sept-Dec., 1939 - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum

Larry Hickey · #1 28th November 2013, 01:53

Hello,

I'm trying to determine if Uffz Herbert Rollwage was in 4./JG53 at the beginning of the war. His RK bio says he was a Uffz in 5./JG53 in 1941. Does anyone know if he served in 4 Staffel earlier in the war?

Thanx for any help.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Matti Salonen · #2 28th November 2013, 05:30

His EKM (MOB number 67009) was from 4./JG 53.

Matti

Larry Hickey · #3 28th November 2013, 07:33

Matti,

Thanx. What was the date of this award?

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Matti Salonen · #4 28th November 2013, 07:48

Don't know exactly. Quite probably in March/April 1940, when a new system was started.

Matti

Larry Hickey · #5 28th November 2013, 09:31

Matti,

That date works for what I wanted. Thanx. I know what EKI and EKII are, but what is EKM?

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Chris Goss · #6 28th November 2013, 09:47

Erkennungsmarke which essentially his service number not an award

Andreas Brekken · #7 28th November 2013, 10:58

Hi, Larry

You would have your dog tag from your service years - the Erkennungsmarke is the same thing.

Regards,
Andreas B

Matti Salonen · #8 28th November 2013, 11:18

The EKM shown by Andreas is the version used by everybody before March/April 1940. It had an inscription of the unit in clear text, which of course was good for enemy when interrogating POWs.
It was changed in 1940 to an encrypted version, which was used by flying personnel in fighting units. Flying personnel in homeland and ground personnel continued to use the old version.
In a new system a MOB number was used to hide the actual unit. Normally every staffel had its own number(s) (as 67009 for 4./JG 53). In the beginning the maximum was 20 persons for every MOB number, but that limit was quite soon omitted and at the end there might have been hundreds of individuals for a single MOB number.
To make things more complicated also letter(s) were used with the MOB number and often it is difficult to know whether letter A or B belongs to the EKM or if it is a blood group.
The MOB number had 5 or 6 digits. About 3000 different MOB numbers were used in total. Fortunately most of the EKM catalogs survived and are now at WASt.

Matti

Larry Hickey · #9 28th November 2013, 11:28

Andreas & Matti,

Thanx for the lesson on German "dog tags." I was familiar with what they were, but didn't know that the abbreviation EKM referred to them. Matti's detailed description of the system is excellent.

Regards,

Larry Hickey
EoE Project Coordinator

Andreas Brekken · #10 28th November 2013, 12:34

Hi, Matti!

Did you get my message regarding the Strichlisten?? I have way to many e-mail addresses for you :-)

Regards,
Andreas B

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