At last weekends semi annual militaria show in Schertz (San Antonio) I managed to pick up this rare GD CT. Scott Pritchett calls it the 5th pattern, but in all likelihood it was the second style of CT that was actually manufactured and worn. Scott believes it was a locally sanctioned and produced variation. Wartime pictures show it being worn in 1940. Most likely it was introduced after the first pattern in Gothic script on a green band but prior to the third pattern in Sutterlin script on a black band. The second pattern for Inf. Regt. Grossdeutschland most likely was never produced.
Scott identifies three variations of the 5th pattern. I believe mine is the type B but it has many features of the type A.
The type A was manufactured on a thin wool (Scott states you can see the needle holes when held up to the light). You can see single strands of thread between some of the letters on the back. It was embroidered in a thicker style of lettering then the type B. There are surviving full length examples of the type A.
The Type B was executed on a soft but thicker wool. The Russian braid is white and the lettering in silver grey thread. There are no full length surviving examples of the type B CT.
Type C was identical to the type A except that it used aluminum wire soutache.
I attached some comparisons of my CT to those in Scotts awesome book. I can clearly see needle holes when I hold my CT up to the light similar to the description provided in Scotts book. However since I don't have a type A to compare it with I don't know if mine is thick or thin per Scotts narrative. The fact that mine is also not full length brings up the question whether they were manufactured that way. Anyway enjoy and feel free to comment. Regards Jim
Scott identifies three variations of the 5th pattern. I believe mine is the type B but it has many features of the type A.
The type A was manufactured on a thin wool (Scott states you can see the needle holes when held up to the light). You can see single strands of thread between some of the letters on the back. It was embroidered in a thicker style of lettering then the type B. There are surviving full length examples of the type A.
The Type B was executed on a soft but thicker wool. The Russian braid is white and the lettering in silver grey thread. There are no full length surviving examples of the type B CT.
Type C was identical to the type A except that it used aluminum wire soutache.
I attached some comparisons of my CT to those in Scotts awesome book. I can clearly see needle holes when I hold my CT up to the light similar to the description provided in Scotts book. However since I don't have a type A to compare it with I don't know if mine is thick or thin per Scotts narrative. The fact that mine is also not full length brings up the question whether they were manufactured that way. Anyway enjoy and feel free to comment. Regards Jim
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