WTK history of Heer NCO "200" Art Shoulder Board

[Quest Master]

I recently picked up this WWII German NCO Artillery Shoulder Board with aluminum "200" numbers on it. It appears to have had two pips on it at one time. Does anyone know what the "200" is for? I tried to do some quick searches on the web and didn't come up with anything that looked correct. Supposedly it came out of Normandy. I only have the one board. It looks a lot brighter in the photo, in reality it is stained and has great color from use without the photo flash. Thanks, Van

[Johnny R]

The numbers there would indicate the unit- http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/...teilung200.htm

[Quest Master]

This is the translation from that page:
"Assault Gun Section 200 (field). Field Post Number: 26960. Situated in the summer of 1944 from parts of the armored artillery brigade OB West with four batteries. The department consisted of British, French and Dutch prey tanks and was still a very combat-effective unit. Their first deployment drove the Department on 6 June during the 21 Panzer Division against Cean. Then heavy fighting followed the landing at the fighting and breaking through Avranches. The department was in the Eifel, where she was refreshed. During the Ardennes offensive, the division of the leaders accompanying Brigade was placed under. The brigade, which was now equipped with German assault guns, took part in the battle of St. Vith and Bastogne part. The missions suffered greatly from the gasoline shortage. After the withdrawal on the West Wall, the department had lost all the battery commander. The department came to Pomerania, and took the fight to Reetz and Arnswalde in the guide accompanying division part. Renamed in February 1945 in tank destroyer division 673rd".

So would this board have belonged to this unit? Would it have been worn on an assault gun wrapper or regular M-43 Tunic?

[Johnny R]

Man the translation is poor, the computer never does a good job.

If the numbers are original to the board and field grey than it would be for that unit. It almost looks like a LW board?

If it is army, this type of board would have been worn on all types of field grey tunics.

[Quest Master]

The numbers are original, sunk into the wool over time. You can see where there were two pips on it. What I do like is that the pins on the reverse of the numbers are different. The "2" has thin brass pins and the "00" matches with aluminum pins. The photo makes it look grey......but in real life the board is a very nice late war style field grey wool.

[Grenadier45]

StuG Abteilung 200 is noteworthy for their extensive use of captured French tank chassis modified to accept German armament. The unit's commander, Major Becker, was an engineer before the war and played a major role in the conversion process. There is a lot of information available on the web if you are interested.
Below is a PK pic of StuG Abt. 200 being inspected just prior to D-Day with the field gray assault gun uniform clearly in wear, in the background are a pair of converted SP guns. Hope this helps


Mike