Assault Gun Obergefreter and Bride

[krim4142]

Page 85 of the Wade Krawczyk book, shows an Assault Gun NCO: Wearing a very similar wrap to the Obergefreter in my picture.

In his book he shows Sturm-Artillerie wraps on page 84 he shows one with the owner wearing a PAB, on page 48 another Sturm - Artillerie wrap with owner wearing a G A B. Page 48 is in color page 84 in black and white. But the collar tabs look the same, with two lines and a border.

I would appreciate any assistance to clarify, the difference in awards.

Peter.

[Simon O.]

Although called sturmartillerie wraps they were worn by a wide variety of troop types

[krim4142]

Assault Gun Obergefreter and Bride

Thank you Simon.

Peter.

[MarcRikmenspoel]

Sturmartillerie were a sub-branch of artillery. As such, men of Stug. units qualified for the General Assault Badge.

Stug were sometimes assigned to tank units as a substitute for Panzer IVs. Their crews would generally wear black Panzer uniforms, but no doubt sometimes received grey Stug. uniforms instead. Also, Stug. units were sometimes placed under Panzer regimental headquarters on a temporary basis. In either case, a man serving in/with a Panzer unit might be awarded the Panzer Assault Badge.

Finally, in the last year of the war, it became common for men serving in SPW units (the armored halftrack battalion of a Panzer Division) to wear Stug. uniforms. They would qualify for the Panzer Assault Badge in Bronze, like other Panzergrenadiere.