Several of the long-timers on the Forum have seen this piped service tunic before. I had always suspected it may have belonged to von Randow based on size and the award loops, but it was sadly unnamed. A few weeks ago a contact in Germany indicated that he had an officer's Mantel belonging to "the last commander of the 13th Cavalry regiment", but that it was unnamed. Since von Randow was the unit's last commander, I took a chance on it. Size-wise, it is a perfect match for the piped service tunic. Better yet, I found a small and heretofore overlooked set of carefully inked initials in the Mantel - vR. Although I don't think that that would necessarily stand up in court, I think it makes a fairly compelling argument. I set it up on a mannequin for this photo shoot. I also have a set fo piped straight-legged pants that came with the tunic when I purchased it. Forum member Drew Wright is also apparently a former owner of the set, so he is certainly welcome to chime in.
von Randow was killed by a mine in Libya in 1942 while commanding the 21st5 Panzer Division, and is buried in the Tobruk War Cemetery. he was posthumously promoted to Generalleutnant.
Don
von Randow was killed by a mine in Libya in 1942 while commanding the 21st5 Panzer Division, and is buried in the Tobruk War Cemetery. he was posthumously promoted to Generalleutnant.
Don
Comment