Assault Gun Pionier Wrapper

[Luca Ongaro]

I hope that I do not act incorrectly in posting this and apologize to those concerned in advance if I do. http://www.virtualgrenadier.com/sale_item.php?iid=593

B. N. Singer

Thanks Mr Singer, this is exactly the uniform from the USA and was in the collection of a fellow member here.

Virtual Grenadier has always very nice stuff for sale and always correct in the descriptions..... not common.
Mike, if you are going to come to Militaria show in Novegro let me know, I'd like to meet you Sir.

Luca

[Johnny R]

Johnny - you hit the nail on the head; this is our guy.

Yes, we have some other earlier-war photos that show him in a standard infantry-style tunic. Also, someone asked about wounds: yes, he was wounded a lot over his service time, including wounds in a leg that left the leg significantly shorter than his other leg (and he had to wear special shoes post-war, to compensate).

Per his service records, his really bad wounds seem to have taken place in August/September 1943 when his unit was at Kursk. As best I can tell, these wounds appear to be related to the combat engagement(s) for which he was awarded the DkiG (as the wound dates coincide with the DkiG award, and the DkiG was his last award). Also, he spent the balance of 1943 and some of 1944 in a hospital, so the wrapper uniform you see post-dates his last round of wounds. He never went back to 10 Pzr. Gren. Div. after the last wounds (I am not sure what unit he went to post-hospitalization, but it was on the Western Front per his relatives' recollections b/c he talked about late-war engagements against U.S. forces).

I had assumed with the "Panzer-wrap" jacket that he commanded Assault Guns and the winter photo was of some of "his" men. Possibly not?

So . . what was this guy? A panzer guy? An infantry guy? Was he ever a "Pioneer"?

Here he is in an infantry uniform in a May 31, 1942 dated photo.

Based on the company/unit (9/20 GR) that he is reported with when he was awarded the DKiG, I would say he was line infantry (Mot) and then later Pz.Gren. I have several tunics and service records of officers that were badly wounded and then spent the rest of the War in training units/hospital etc. They usually were not promoted beyond Hauptmann and he is not listed in the late War lists for Major although not everyone is in there. The wraps were worn by all arms of service in the Army and as I mentioned were popular with Pz.Gren officers.

[B. N. Singer]

Thanks Mr Singer, this is exactly the uniform from the USA...
Luca

Indeed they are a Very Uncommon variation, not found in many advanced wraparound collections.

B. N. Singer

[Mike Davis]

Thank you for the kind words gents.

IMO, the gabardine wrap is not 'restored'. If I had thought that the case, I would have described it that thusly.

However, the national emblem application is unusual. Based on close inspection a) I do not believe it was applied by hand to simulate machine application, b) I cannot see sign of previous bird, and c) no lapel or lining seams appear to have been opened. Plus, I have seen these 'raw edge' national emblem applications before, but admittedly don't recall having seen such distance between stitches.

So, if this is a 'restored' item, the skills of the innovative tailors have moved beyond my ability to identify their handiwork.

In respect to gabardine wraps in general, I observed one other set to include trousers at 2009 SOS. I think Mr Singer may have seen this ste as well.

Close up of litzen tab - traces of the former 'Russia braid' application remain:

[Mike Davis]

Apologies - it is not my intent to hijack the thread.

National emblem application:

[Jens Thune]

Luca, great wrappers

the picture and garbadine stug wrap very nice aswell

Here is matching italian garbadine stug trousers..

Jens

[Mike Davis]

Very nice Jens. I only recall seeing one other pair. Would it be possible to see the markings?

[Jens Thune]

Sure, here you go..

They are pretty salty

[Luca Ongaro]

How many items in just one thread, I like it.
Nice pants Jens
Luca

[Jens Thune]

It sure is an interesting thread.. lots of nice items posted

Jens

How many items in just one thread, I like it.
Nice pants Jens
Luca

[Mike Davis]

Thanks Jens. Quite rare.

[Richard P]

Luca,

You can't keep making all your stug wraps pioneer...people will start getting suspicious. Just joking my friend, wonderful pieces, very rare, I think you should spread them around to other collections so we can all enjoy them. Congratulations on you lucrative searches.

Mike,

Sweet wrap, very unusually applied breast eagle, but credible. I do not believe that is hand stitching either, just from your photo. I think it would be difficult, if not impossible, to keep them so uniform on the straight runs, plus the thread has to go in and back out the same hole. Machines can be adjusted to sew that widely, I have seen it before. Excellent piece, thanks for hijacking the thread.

Jens,

Killer pants, have a few spare pairs in a little better condition?

Richard

[Mike Davis]

Mike,

Sweet wrap, very unusually applied breast eagle, but credible. I do not believe that is hand stitching either, just from your photo. I think it would be difficult, if not impossible, to keep them so uniform on the straight runs, plus the thread has to go in and back out the same hole. Machines can be adjusted to sew that widely, I have seen it before. Excellent piece, thanks for hijacking the thread.

Richard

Thank you for the comments, I have opened a thread specifically on this topic here:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=1#post3896652

I hope that you and others with opinions will comment.

[Richard P]

Mike,

Consider it done!

[Paul Walmsley]

That earlier photo of our 1944 gabardine wrap-clad officer from the Panzergrenadiers or infantry or pioneers........is he wearing a Gebirgsjager or (maybe plain ol') Jager cap (photo from 1942)
And are those "galoshes" issue?