"Identifying German or Soviet divisions." Topic

As I understand it, neither German nor Soviet standard infantry divisions wore division patches like the Allies did – (excluding certain elite German units who had cuff titles).

So if I am leading a patrol tasked with identifying the specific unit of the enemy in front of me, how was that done?
Was there anything besides prisoner interrogation, hoping they just adnit it?
Did they have ID cards or paybooks or anything with that type of information?

So suppose my squad gets in a firefight and drives off the enemy, they fall back leaving no living soldiers. Howw easy was it to figure out who they were?

I am thinking of a situation where there has been a breakthrough and there are no clear and coherant enemy lines – so they could be anyone.

The Germans would have their identify/pay books. See this link: link

Don't know about the Soviets.

Jim

The Russians issued military ID booklets just like the Germans did. Tan with a red star on the cover.

The location/identification of major formations (division and up) was more commonly determined by SIGINT rather than prisoners though.

The Germans also used unit markings on their vehicles. Units knew who they were fighting.

Some German units had cuff bands. Großdeutschland das Reich etc. shoulder straps could have numbers for BN or regiment.
Carrying id was mandatory though so if you captured a German soldier you likely captured papers had his unit details on. Or if you searched a body for that matter.

I was kind of wondering if identifying the enemy across from you would be a viable misssion for a skirmish mission. Somewhat inspired by the following:
1: a book I am currently reading about Normandy describing the breakout during Cobra. It seems the German units were in such a disarray that the lines were very fluid and nobody knew where anyone was.
2: The scene from Band of Brothers aboutthe fight in Holland when good old Easy Company seemed surprised the Germans they were fighting were SS.

During Market Garden 10th SS Panzer remained convinced until very late in the battle that Guards Armoured Div was a US formation.

As many of the German formations were completely ad hoc and assembled from fortress, naval and training units I'd be astonished if the Allies had the slightest idea who they were fighting much of the time.

In the Red Army, soldiers carried a "soldier's book"—an identification document. However, it usually only contained a nominal unit number, such as "military unit No. 356291." That is, it was not enough to know the number – you had to have the appropriate directory.
Beginning in 1942, the Red Army began developing a system of identification marks for units and subunits on vehicles, but it didn't become fully operational until around 1944.

As was correctly pointed out above, radio intelligence could have been of great assistance. If a division had been at the front for a long time, the enemy could recognize it simply by the radio operator's "handwriting"…

But the best way is to capture a prisoner of war or to capture documents from killed enemy officers (maps, orders, reports, etc.).

"Hoping they'd just admit it" is actually a pretty viable strategy at that level of information. You drop the prisoners one at a time in the S-2 shop, give them a cup of coffee and explain, "I just need to fill out this form before we get you some breakfast. You're with the 501st, right? And old Klink's still the C.O.?" It works pretty regularly.

DO NOT tie the guy to a chair, rough him up a little, shine a light in his eyes and shout "What's your unit? Who's your commander?" Then they know it's important, and they're not in a cooperative mood.

As noted, SIGINT is good in a static situation. And in a seriously "fluid" one, the poor stiff may have no idea who he's just been attached to. Paybook might be a little behind the times too.