Help Identifying Two WWII German Artifacts

Hello, I am new to ww2f.com, this being my first post. I'm a young collector just starting off in this field, but I have always had a strong interest in WWII history. I recently made my first purchases of WWII collectibles and was hoping members here with experience can tell me more about the items' history, the unit featured on the ID disc, and perhaps the authenticity of the items. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

The Identity Disc is for the 2nd Company, SS Panzer Grenadier Ausbildungs und Ersatz Batallion 5 (Wiking)
Similar discs can be found here, post #65: http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/erkennungsmarken-id-discs/ss-erkennungsmarken-371158-7/
I will make no claim on it's authenticity.

 

Thanks for the help. I appreciate it! Would Skipper mind if I send him a message asking him to check it out?

 

Hello, you have the remains of a first class Eizerkreuz . The rim is in good shape because it's silver, it could possible still have a marking code engraved. The middle part is more damaged because it's metal (it used to be black). The parts go together like a sandwich with the iron in the middle. Your cross is 3rd Reich (1939 dated) because WWI (1914 dated ) and earlier ones do not have the swastika. It is possible that you have parts from two several crosses, because you seem to have two metal parts and only one silver rim. The value is symbolic because these relics have probably been buried for decades and have suffered badly.

The dog tag (identification tag) is quite interesting. SS Panzer Grenadiere tags are quite popular among collectors. This being said, many copies circulate on the net, so be careful . I have never seen a real tag like this in my life, so be prepared to be told it could be a copy.










First class (no ring around the silver ).




second class (ring on rim)

 

Is it possible that the Iron Cross was burned, perhaps taken from a dead German soldier? The box it came it labeled it as a "burned remains of German Iron Cross". Is there any way to tell between it being burnt or rusted/buried in the dirt?

 

I think it may be both, burnt and rusted, hard to tell...

 

Hmm, the rusts clearly shows it is long term . The burning could mean anything. Many crosses were simply thrown away after V.E. day when soldiers burnt their uniforms to avoid identification and or capture. It could even have been done recently on a piece of rust to give it a "story".