Female panzer troops?? Who are these ladies?

[tmca05]

I was watching some wartime movie footage on Critical Past.
I noticed these 3 ladies wearing, what appears to be black panzer wraps, pants, cap and belts. They look more military than just civialians wearing discarded clothing.
My first thought was NH Des Heeres, but they do not have any signal blitz, and one clearly is wearing panzer collar tabs without the skulls.
Any ideas or thoughts?

[tmca05]

a

[Leroy]

I believe they are just wearing whatever they had available to them to keep warm. Perhaps some were helferin who were in a military facility area and got what they could find, but the presence of children with them makes me question that a bit.

[tmca05]

Why the belts?
These uniforms are being worn in military fashion with insignia attached.
Not smart for a refugees approaching allied troops.

[me6_130]

I would think they are civilian dressed in military uniforms, so they can escape to American sector, mixe up with troops, rushing from Russians that were approaching from the East. Americans were not shooting these soldiers surrendering, but rather helped them to cross the broken bridge.

Carles

[enorepap]

Since you have taken the frames from criticalpast movies of which Youtube is full, now it would be useful to read the end of the 12th Wenck army and of the remains of the 9th Busse army with the civilians, fleeing from the Halbe pocket. The damaged Tangermunde bridge was one of the west passages. It is well known that the Americans prohibited the transit of civilians and therefore many were disguised as soldiers to save them. However, a part of both soldiers and civilians was ferried again to the east and handed over to the Soviets ... amen

[Lennard]

Pz Tunics

Hi,

I believe that the panzer crossovers have the standard badges as applied at the tunic maker, the skulls, epaulettes and other badges would be added later by the soldiers when issued with these tunics.

Therefore they are simply out of a clothing store and being use because they are new and more practical for the women than skirts and dresses for their marches to the west.

cheers lennard.

[Admiraal]

I've read in the past that American troops were ordered to only let soldiers cross the bridge at some point. That was the reason why civilians would wear those uniforms.

[Nightwish]

Hi,

I believe that the panzer crossovers have the standard badges as applied at the tunic maker, the skulls, epaulettes and other badges would be added later by the soldiers when issued with these tunics.

Therefore they are simply out of a clothing store and being use because they are new and more practical for the women than skirts and dresses for their marches to the west.

cheers lennard.

Or, possibly, the skulls were removed to prevent an mistaken identity with SS-Forces...

[hoover]

That are stills from the famous Tangermünde newsreel. There is also a very intersting photo series of about 250 pictures taken by US reporters.

Oficially only German army members were allowed to cross the destroyed bridge for going into US captivity. I think that is the reason why in the film in the photo series are so many woman and some children are to be seen in uniforms.