3rd pattern tropical tunic with early shoulder boards

[Maxoumilitaria]

Hi guys,

I bought this picture thinking the soldier was wearning a M44 and it's only after receiving it that I realised it is a 3rd pattern tropical tunic.

Therefore I've a couple a questions coming to my mind:
- Is it possible to differentiate tropical collar tabs from late war ones on black and white pictures?
- How common is it to see soldiers wearing early dark green shoulder straps with tropical tunics?
- Last one: what do you see on the shoulder straps ? I see a "1" but I'm not sure about the letter above...

Thanks in advance for your opinion!

Max

[NZMark]

Excellent studio image of a very crisp 3rd pattern.
The mix of continental straps or boards (very different things) is very common on tropical tunics, due to many factors - supply, demand, vanity...
Not so common, but seen, was continental uniforms with tropical straps...
So, to answer your questions -
1 - Yes, I believe so, depending on image quality.
2 - Quite common
3 - Will leave that to people with younger eyes than mine!
Regards,
Mark
NZ

[Hans Kristian]

I see an "S" gothic style (Schule).

[Maxoumilitaria]

Thanks for your answers guys !

[afrikasandman]

Interesting that he is wearing a continental Schutzen Rgt 1 board.... Early board with a mid war tunic, just a different combo. Matt

[Schulterklappen]

Balkans

Interesting that he is wearing a continental Schutzen Rgt 1 board.... Early board with a mid war tunic, just a different combo. Matt

I wonder if this is from the period of the 1. Panzer Division's posting to the Balkans and Greece in June 1943? If I remember correctly, Mike Pruett said that even after being designated Panzergrenadier Rgt. 1, they continued to use Rosa Waffenfarbe.

[Mike Davis]

Nice photos, thanks for posting. Here is another shot of a third pattern Heer tropical blouse worn with dark green straps.

[OSS]

It is not really unusual to see continental M-36 straps worn with tropical tunics, though it doesn't appear too often in photos from N. Afrika (it suggests Italian Front to me). Here are several studio shots with M-36 straps being worn on first pattern tunics even though the collars have the appropriate tress:

[NickG]

Every time I see these combinations, it makes me think about this movie!

[Ohlau]

Every time I see these combinations, it makes me think about this movie!

Remember as well. Probably original tunic, as few other (even parkas) used in this movie/