Wehrmacht Panzer Units

[Stalag305mm]

I have a question about late war Heer Panzer unit insiginias. What was the standard insig worn by tank crewman? Was it the "Totenkopf" bordered with pink? Shoulder boards with pink "trim"? I have seen regular Heer collar tabs of "bars" with pink between them-- is this real or fake-- Who would have wore them? I realize that camo patterns used by the Wehrmacht were far and few inbetween but would the insigs be the same for the black Panzerwrap as would be for a splinter camo Panzerwrap Thank you for your time


Peiter

[stab131]

Try this wwebsite http://www.angelfire.com/sk2/germanuniforms/

or look at http://www.soldat.com

Also Davis' book on German uniforms has a whole section on Panzer uniforms.

In short, normally the "death's head," a traditional badge, on cloth, edged in rose-pink, on the black wrap. Officers had litzen in pink on their collar tabs.

Wrap's collar was piped in rose-pink, but later the pioping was removed, though piping continued to appear throughout war.

Jeff

[stab131]

A clarification.

Collar tabs with pink litzen for officers were worn only on the field gray service uniform.

It is possible that there were enlisted collar tabs with pink litzen as well since the black panzer uniform was orginally only to be worn when in or working on the armor vehicle. However, the uniqueness of the panzer uniform caused it to become a "daily ware" uniform.

Look at http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Heer/HeerSections.html, every know and then they have good examples of orginal collar tabs.

All ranks wore "death heads" on the black panzer wraps.

Jeff

[Paul Hanson]

One problem is Jeff and Pieter are making the same mistaken assumption: that pink was only worn by Panzertruppen.

Pink was also the Waffenfarbe of Motor Park units of all kinds, especially Armored Recovery Units(the guys on the big FAMO halftracks).

Most of these troops would have worn the standard field service uniform with Doppellitzen on the collar and pink Waffenfarben. So Pieter's Doppellitzen would not be unusual or fake.

The splinter camo was not made into Panzer wraps. The few that are seen are generally considered to be privately-procurred items made from zeltbahns, or what-ever source of camo material, and are badged up as fully as the wearer desired.

PH

[stab131]

Paul you are right. One does tend to forget about all of those who wore pink waffenfarbe.

This is a compiled list, from several sources, of who wore pink waffenfarbe, and their shoulder strap insignia letter marking:

panzer commands (Army) -- "Roman" number of command
panzer division staff -- "D" and divisional number
panzer rifle brigade staff -- number of unit
panzer units -- number of unit
anti tank units -- "P" with unit number below
armored trains -- "E" with unit number below
motorcycle units of panzer units -- "K" with unit number below
panzer training regiments -- "L"
panzer school gothic -- "S"
army school of motoring -- "MS"
motor maintenance troops -- "J"

Jeff

[Paul Hanson]

Good list, Jeff. And there are at least four listed who would more than likely wear the standard Field Service uniform instead of the Panzer uniform.

PH

[Stalag305mm]

Thanks guys I appreciate the info.


Peiter