Original German WWII ID dogtag - 8./A.R.176 (76. I.D.) (Battle of Stalingrad)

Description

This dogtag was found in
Stalingrad
.
8./A.R.176
stands for
8. Batterie. / Artillerie-Regiment 176
(
8th Battery of the 176th Artillery Regiment
).
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/ArtReg/AR176-R.htm
This unit was a part of the
76. Infanterie-Division
(
76th Infantry Division
).
http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Gliederungen/Infanteriedivisionen/76ID-R.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/76th_Infantry_Division_(Wehrmacht)
76th Infantry Division
was formed in August, 1939 in
Potsdam
. It took part in the
Invasion of France
, first breaking through the Luxembourg and french border to reach the area to the southeast of Sedan. Later the division was involved in the heavy combat on the west bank of the river Meuse.
In the summer 1941 the division was sent to the eastern front . It took part in the
Battle of Kiev
, later advancing to the Belgorod area.
In the summer 1942, it marched towards the rivers Don and Volga with the ultimate goal of taking the city of
Stalingrad
. However, it encountered the soviet counteroffensive when the division reached the heights of Kotluban and was encircled with the rest of the 6th Army and destroyed shortly after.
Insignia of the 76th Infantry Division (Source: Lexicon-der-Wermacht)