Hello,
I am new to panzer collecting. I recently picked up these items from the nephew of a deceased veteran of the 737th Tank Battalion. The vet (Joe P.) served in combat with the 737th from July 44 – May 45. I have his DD214 and the After Action Reports for the unit. He was a halftrack driver initially, but later drove a Sherman tank. He fought in Normandy (St. Lo breakout/Operation Cobra), Battle of the Bulge, etc. Most of the items are pretty straight forward – cap removed cloth eagle, panzer assault badge, 1936 version cloth panzer breast eagle (unissued), and single pz collar tab. The boards are interesting – one is SS and has a hole in it where a pip or panzer regiment number was worn (I will post it on the SS forum for feedback). He also picked up an SS double decal helmet and some other cloth items, during the German’s Mortain counter attack.
Regarding the two Heer panzer boards, the construction of the boards is slightly different (note button hole and ends) and they have non regulation, three pong skulls on them. A few questions: Are the boards good? If taken from the same panzer wrapper, is it common/feasible for the boards not to match exactly? Has anyone seen skulls on boards before or have a period picture of them worn this way? I was told, this configuration is how they were sent home 70+ years ago and they have not been messed with since.
Thanks for your time,
Paul
I am new to panzer collecting. I recently picked up these items from the nephew of a deceased veteran of the 737th Tank Battalion. The vet (Joe P.) served in combat with the 737th from July 44 – May 45. I have his DD214 and the After Action Reports for the unit. He was a halftrack driver initially, but later drove a Sherman tank. He fought in Normandy (St. Lo breakout/Operation Cobra), Battle of the Bulge, etc. Most of the items are pretty straight forward – cap removed cloth eagle, panzer assault badge, 1936 version cloth panzer breast eagle (unissued), and single pz collar tab. The boards are interesting – one is SS and has a hole in it where a pip or panzer regiment number was worn (I will post it on the SS forum for feedback). He also picked up an SS double decal helmet and some other cloth items, during the German’s Mortain counter attack.
Regarding the two Heer panzer boards, the construction of the boards is slightly different (note button hole and ends) and they have non regulation, three pong skulls on them. A few questions: Are the boards good? If taken from the same panzer wrapper, is it common/feasible for the boards not to match exactly? Has anyone seen skulls on boards before or have a period picture of them worn this way? I was told, this configuration is how they were sent home 70+ years ago and they have not been messed with since.
Thanks for your time,
Paul
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