The story is true. Bulgarian tank troops did convert captured German badges to "Bulgarian type" by adding a self-made badge over the eagle. A friend still has his Grandfather's. Through all these years I have seen 2-3 genuine, with clear "woodwork source", all with different badge added. Is the one from the first photo genuine? May be. Or maybe not. I have no way to tell. But in history, these did exist.
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War booty?Comment
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Yes, in September 1944 a leftist coup was made, the Red Army invaded the country in the same time. War was declared on Germany and the army was sent against the retreating Germans, reaching Hungary and Austria at the end of the war.
Yes, such badges were war booty. And in fact these were not the only German stuff, re-used by the Bulgarian tank men. Somewhere they found some number of black NSKK side caps and reused these with their black uniforms. Insignia removed and rank stripes added. The mentioned friend with the badge, he sill has that cap, too. And I have two of these, found at different time, out of the woodwork. Speaking of black uniforms, the Bulgarians had black panzer wraps, similar to the German, with skulls on the tabs. Small skull, like the German. But here is one of the commanders, with Braunschweig type skulls.Comment
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