Erkennungsmarke 2. Artillerie Ersatz Abteilung 246

Erkennungsmarke marked 2./ Art. Ers. Abt. 246 indicating  2. Kompanie Artillerie Ersatz Abteilung 246 which supplied replacement troops for Artillerie Regiment 246 and 652. Artillerie Regiment 246 was part of the 246 Volks-Grenadier-Division who fought in Aachen, Schoppen, Ormont and the Eiffel region.

The 652 Artillerie Regiment was part of the 712 Infanterie Division which was stationed and fought in the Netherlands. On September 4, 1944, a regimental group of the division blocked the Albert Canal to the north and east, while a battalion was deployed to secure the crossings from Hasselt. From September 20, 1944, the division was transferred to Walcheren. The division, which had been decimated on the island of Walcheren, was assigned the fortress machine gun battalions 14 and 29 and the I./AR 164 for refreshment and was to be divided into three regiments. When it was placed under the command of the LXXXVIII Army Corps on September 26, the division moved to the Nistelrode area. On September 27, 1944, the division was thrown back 1.5 km to the west on both sides of the Hees-S Hertogenbosch road. At the beginning of November 1944, the division was south of Gorinchem, and at the beginning of December 1944 it was east of Gorinchem. By order of 15 January 1945, the division was designated for the East and assigned to Army Group A.

A interesting Erkennungsmarke which is a nice piece for further research.