Langemark

Even if skulls usually have a sad look, some here seem to be laughing a bit ! No ? Some close-ups might be interesting in order to appreciate the degree of happiness of each skull ... Mark

That is an utmost impressive display of very nice quality medals. Very impressive also is that the red background in the first picture (with the countless Panzerkampfabzeichen) seems not big enough to contain all the medals ! With best regards, Marc

Below is a Windhund cap badge given to me by a former young Belgian Red Cross assistant. The man had been in charge of burying the bodies of the German soldiers killed around his town during the Ardennes offensive in 1944. The badge was removed from the cap of a dead German soldier and kept as a souvenir. Unfortunately, in the rashly removal, both pins were broken off. Best, Marc

Bob, your 116th Panzer cap badge is 100 % authentic. Best, Marc

Thank you Tom for your kind words. Indeed, for some reasons I felt I had to reduce my posts on the other Forum. Anyway, I won?t say more as I don?t want to use this Forum here as a ?Speaker?s Corner?. I simply hope that my humble contribution to this ?Gentlemans Forum? will be more serene. To answer your question : yes, I have already seen such anachronisms concerning the stamps. I think the Depot not always rigidly adapted the dates. Beside this, everybody sometimes makes mistakes, even in the German Army ! I think, the best you could do is to start a new thread and post some pictures of your cap for comments ? Best, Mark

Can?t resist posting a close up of this machine-woven cloth tag.

To me, the most interesting feature on this cap is the cloth tag with name and unit. On the other hand, the maker?s stamp on the lining has become completely unreadable.

Reverse of the side panels.

Jacques, may your wish become reality ... Mark

All insignia is originally sewn to the cap. However, as in many cases, the BeVo cockade is not on a black background but on a dark green one. Such mismatch was simply the result of supply problems with early produced caps.

Sorry, I have some problems posting the images.

As planned, I?ll post here some pictures of a named M38 Panzer side cap. Mark

I agree Jacques, and even if the second style Panzerjacke has a more impressive look (with the large collar), I still prefer the elegance of the first style Panzer jacket. Replying to your question about the Panzer beret : no, I don?t own one. The Baskenm?tze is a rare and very interesting piece of headgear ? but most will agree that it isn?t the most esthetic piece of headgear in the German army. I have been offered a few examples but never managed to find a nice untouched and textbook one. Mark

Cuff adjustment.

Close up on the waist hook retaining straps and tightening device.

In the meanwhile I post here the other details of the jacket : Underside of the collar and lapels. Noticeable is the long vertical tightening sewing line with the two short secondary horizontal lines. Wartime Panzer jackets don?t show such excessive attention for smartness.

Unfortunately this Panzer jacket is unnamed (as most issue uniforms). This makes me think that I could start an other thread concerning a nicely worn M38 Panzer side cap with original name/regimental tag still sewn on. Mark

Markings : Maker : Kurwerke The sizes are stamped in the usual configuration. However, the upper right size is missing, as often seen on early Panzerjacken (reason unknown). Depot stamp and date : Erfurt 1935. Unit stamp : 4 Kompanie / Panzer-Regiment 5. Inspection and condition of the uniform : state I (= new)

The early type eagle is hand sewn to the jacket. This is not unusual as, prior the end of 1935, most early jackets were produced and worn without the breast eagle.

Thank you Gordon. I will try to post some pictures of the details and the inside of this Jacke. Mark

Detail of a collar patch and shoulder strap. All piping is done in wool Waffenfarbe.

Close up on the collar patches.

Upper part of the jacket. There?s no neck closing devise, nor button/buttonholes for closing the lapels.

Easily discernible by the narrow collar, here is a nice example of a 1935 dated first style Panzer jacket. Mark

Inside