Leather protective panzer garment

[Panzer Rob]

The first set of former KM-leather uniforms were grey when handled to tank-crews in early 1944, but have to be painted black by the soldiers. Those given to the 12.SS-Pz.-Div. "Hitlerjugend" in early summer of 1944 (just prior to the invasion) were already the black sets, captured back from italian stocks. The germans had given the italians those for their submarine-crews, but after september 1943 those were captured back by the LAH, and sent back to germany.

Normally the tankers-leather uniforms differ from the navy-suits by: large black plastic buttons instead of the golden navy ones. No navy markings. No shirts-style collar - only a small 2cm wide turtle-neck collar with wire-hook closure. Mostly the leather straps to tighten the arm-openings were removed, so there was no danger to be trapped on something when getting out of the tank in a hurry.

Here is my set for comparison:

Very nice, Gran... VERY nice

Rob

[sdacbob]

The first set of former KM-leather uniforms were grey when handled to tank-crews in early 1944, but have to be painted black by the soldiers. Those given to the 12.SS-Pz.-Div. "Hitlerjugend" in early summer of 1944 (just prior to the invasion) were already the black sets, captured back from italian stocks. The germans had given the italians those for their submarine-crews, but after september 1943 those were captured back by the LAH, and sent back to germany.

Normally the tankers-leather uniforms differ from the navy-suits by: large black plastic buttons instead of the golden navy ones. No navy markings. No shirts-style collar - only a small 2cm wide turtle-neck collar with wire-hook closure. Mostly the leather straps to tighten the arm-openings were removed, so there was no danger to be trapped on something when getting out of the tank in a hurry.

Here's a pic of Sturmbannfuhrer Prinz, II SS Pz Reg 12 with the shirt type collar

[IMG]file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Owner/My%20Documents/WW%20II/23_12.JPG[/IMG]

[NickG]

period picture

Here's a cool picture of panzer leather. Not sure if this a former KM garment... but it sure looks sharp with panzer rank insignia added!
Note that the Pzr NCO in the background removed his panzer skulls...(blank collar tabs), I guess he did not want to be confused with Waffen SS!

[Michael H. Pruett]

Leather Panzer Outfits

In the book THE HG PANZER DIVISION by Alfred Otte, Schiffer Publishing, 1989 there is an excellent photograph on page 162 of Oberstleutnant Rossmann with two of his officers from Panzer-Rgt. HG. All three men wear black leather Panzer cut wrappers complete with shoulder boards, breast eagles and the Panzer death head pinned to the collars. The photo was taken late in the war during the fighting in Upper Silesia. I have also seen some late war photographs of members from Panzeraufklärungs-Abteilung 23 wearing leather Panzer cut jackets late as well. While this style jacket was not that common it was worn none the less.

Hope this helps
Mike

[derka]

hello,

some shown here :

http://perso.orange.fr/did.panzer/uniforme_PZ_cuir.html

regards
derka

[archer]

Interesting thread.
Just watched D-Day to Berlin on UK TV History.
A "docu-drama" mixing film footage and actors in costume.
In the main the costumes seem right- UK and German.

One scene is about Wittman.
It is actors and there is no film footage but the actor is dressed in one of the double breasted black leather tops (wrapper)

Only a very short scene but I think I saw Rank, piping and awards being worn so someone in costumes has researched very well.

[derka]

hello,

for Wittmann,
go to this link, click on the tiger video of 5mn14s lenght,
after around 2mn35s of wiewing, there is a short film (5/6 s) from him at the turret of his tiger I :
http://www.alanhamby.com/video.html
i think he had the standart black leather km tunic, not a wrapper,
as too on well known pics taken june 13th 1944 after Villers-Bocage fight.

regards
derka