my new SS panzer shot

[i.spring]

Hay guys, I got a small mixed bag of photos this week and in all the normal wehrmacht soldier shots, was this one really nice group shot.
Im not very good with waffen ss and was wondering, could anyone tell me about my photo, maybe even recognise any of the officers or types of uniform?
Thanks. Ian

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Ian, nice photo.

They are all Heer, not Waffen SS. The two soldiers on the left are from an assault artillery unit while the guy on the right is Panzer.

The guy on the left appears to lack a breast eagle, which is odd? Is that what threw you about them being Army? The photo does not appear to be that clear in that area? But the collar displays the litzen collar tabs.

Cheers, Ade.

[i.spring]

ah cool, thank you.
Can i ask, how could i tell the difference between a HEER panzer officer in black top and a Waffen SS panzer officer, do both of them have deaths heads on their collar tabs?
Thanks.
Ian

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Ian, the Army Panzer units all wore metal deathsheads collar tabs. This was a throw back to the old Imperial Army's hussar units to which they considered themselves as succesors They wore an eagle on the breast.

The Waffen SS Panzer units of the 3rd SS Panzer Divison "Totenkopf" wore a woven or embroidered cloth collar tab. This skull was larger and of a different design. They wore an eagle on the arm. All other Waffen SS Panzer units either wore SS runes or the special design collar tabs of their unit.

Cheers, Ade.

[i.spring]

thanks Adrian ! for your help, now i have much better understanding of the differences ! cheers.
By the way, here are a few more of the pics that came in my new mix bag.
Hope you enjoy.
All the Best.
Ian