The usage of personal identification documents became determined at the end of the 19^th and entirely standardized in the 20^th century. Until then the different parish registers, verifications of residence and military documents were used in an uncoordinated fashion and without regulations. In Europe the beginning of identification documents is traced to the ancient Roman army. During the First World War identification capsules were used such as the ones in the Imperial and Royal Austro-Hungarian Army.

All state governing structures of which Croatian and Croatian lands were an integral part are showcased through different documents which can be seen in this virtual exhibition. Some objects are showcased for the first time to the public and we specifically point out the possibility of publishing physically sensitive objects that are complicated for exhibiting.

From the Croatian History Museum collections, we present a selection of military identification capsules, dog tags, ID cards and booklets which cover a timeframe from 1890 until 1999. Up until today a lot of different identification documents of different character has developed which overcame their initial function of easy identifying killed, wounded and imprisoned soldiers. Though this virtual exhibition a development of the practice of identifying soldiers and its cross from military into civilian society can be seen.