Description
Physical description
Short double-breasted open-collared jacket of black wool with wide lapels. There are a matching pair of black collar patches edged in pink waffenfarbe with a white metal death's head, and the deatchable epaulettes are of black cloth (rounded ends) and piped also with pink waffenfarbe. In addition the epaulettes feature double lengths of metallic lace (tresse) indicating the wearer's status as an officer candidate - Offizieranwärter. To the right breast is sewn an eagle & swastika, machined in white imitation silk on black (1st pattern).
The jacket is closed by four buttons to the lower right, all of the same standard black form. The deep lapels feature added button holes, permitting the jacket to be buttoned across the chest in severest weather conditions and has hook and eye closures (introduced 1936 initially with the 2nd pattern). Partially lined with grey artificial silk (late-war), the jacket has a central seam to the rear, and two large holes have been repaired to the upper right rear.
Label
The special uniform for armoured troops (Sonderbekleidung der Panzertruppe) was first introduced in 1934. Consisting of a short jacket, trousers with tapered cuffs, and a special beret style headdress, the clothing was influenced by garments then used by skiiers, whilst the headdress bore some resemblance to the berets used by British armoured crews. The choice of black was perhaps dual-purpose: practical, as it did not show the inevitable oil stains; and striking, as it was unique and distinctive and thus exemplified the elite status of the corps. The adoption of the traditional totenkopf (death's head) badges of the former hussar regiments of the old Prussian army further identified the new arm with their predecessors of the cavalry. Initially the jacket had no breast eagle but this was added between 1935 and 1939. Those first jackets adopted in 1934 had plain exposed wide lapels, the upper collar edged in waffenfarbe*. In 1936 additional buttons and corresponding button holes were added to the front facing lapel, together with metal hook & eye components to permit the garment to be closed to the neck in severe weather (2nd pattern). The final 3rd pattern deleted the waffenfarbe piping to the collar in the summer of 1942. NCO rank was determined by either sleeve rank badges or flat metallic tresse lace to the epaulettes, and never around the collar edge. Officers wore wire embroidered breast eagles and conventional epaulettes. All decorations and war service badges were worn.
The headdress took the form of a padded rubber cap with a black wool cover, having the appearance of a large beret. Like the jacket, the Schutzmütze (protective cap) initially did not feature the eagle & swastika emblem, instead featured only a machined red/white/black national cockade within a spray of oakleaves (the eagle was added in the late 1930s). Used in the early campaigns, the Schutzmütze was phased out by the adoption of the black field service cap in March 1940 (although some officers had elected to wear their 'old style' officer's service dress caps of field grey with a leather peak and pink piping), and the peaked field cap from 1943.
*Panzer troops wore rose pink waffenfarbe, whilst armoured reconnaissance (Aufklärungs) used yellow, and armoured pioneers wore twisted black and white distinctions. It is known that some Sturmartillerie (assault artillery) wore the black uniform, and these troops wore red waffenfarbe, however they adopted a field grey version of the uniform officially in 1940.
History note
The special uniform for armoured troops (Sonderbekleidung der Panzertruppe) was first introduced in 1934. Consisting of a short jacket, trousers with tapered cuffs, and a special beret style headdress, the clothing was influenced by garments then used by skiiers, whilst the headdress bore some resemblance to the berets used by British armoured crews. The choice of black was perhaps dual-purpose: practical, as it did not show the inevitable oil stains; and striking, as it was unique and distinctive and thus exemplified the elite status of the corps. The adoption of the traditional totenkopf (death's head) badges of the former hussar regiments of the old Prussian army further identified the new arm with their predecessors of the cavalry. Initially the jacket had no breast eagle but this was added between 1935 and 1939. Waffenfarbe piping* decorated the collar edge until this was discontinued some time during 1942 and NCO rank was determined by either sleeve rank badges or flat metallic tresse lace to the epaulettes, and never around the collar edge. Officers wore wire embroidered breast eagles and conventional epalaulettes. All decorations and war service badges were worn attached to the jacket.
The headdress took the form of a padded rubber cap with a black wool cover, having the appearance of a large beret. like the jacket, the Schutzmütze (protective cap) initially did not feature the eagle & swastika emblem, instead featured only a machined red/white/black national cockade within a spray of oakleaves (the eagle was added in the late 1930s). Used in the early campaigns, the Schutzmütze was phased out by the adoption of the black field service cap in March 1940 (although some officers had elected to wear their 'old style' officer's service dress caps of field grey with a leather peak and pink piping), and the peaked field cap from 1943.
*Panzer troops wore rose pink waffenfarbe, whilst armoured reconnaissance (Aufklärungs) used yellow, and armoured pioneers wore twisted black and white distinctions. It is known that some Sturmartillerie (assault artillery) wore the black uniform, and these troops wore red waffenfarbe, however they adopted a field grey version of the uniform officially in 1940.