Your thoughts on this red-stitched Aufklarung Abteilung 3 Strap

[MilitaryCollect]

more pics.

[90th Light]

Two more images from the other thread to add to the continuing discussion here. The black side cap with yellow soutache is dated 1940, the tropical cap with copper brown 1942.

Some German soldiers continued to wear their black caps in Afrika. However, a tropical shoulder board for EM or NCO with pink piping for A.A.3 has never been encountered by New Zealand collectors,

Chris

[brooksbz]

Some other early boards from 3PD for comparision.

[Schulterklappen]

3. Pz.

Some other early boards from 3PD for comparision.

Very nice!

[Tim O'Keefe]

hello,

there was a panzer kompanie assigned to aufklarung abteilung 3 (mot.). the strap came with the wp grouping. although this man did not go to afrika, his unit certainly did. might the men of this kompanie have worn pink in the beginning after their arrival in north afrika?

chris

Great additional photos Chris,

No, there were no Pz in AA3 in Afrika. However from the outset AA3 had the 5th Pz Co attached to it from 5th Pz Regt & a platoon of Pz Jg I from 605 Pz Jg Bn. AA3 did use the sdkfz 222 & 231 in the Spah Co.

Would like to thank Chris for this excellent and very informative thread and 90th Lt for posting some of Dal's straps and thoughts. It is a real privilege to hear what Dal has to say on this subject as to what piping was used by the AA3 in Afrika. Thanks !

It appears the pink strap from AA3 are either pre-Afrika or perhaps more likely the Erzatz Bn Johnny mentions...