Bulgarian - German Panzer hat

[Theodor]

Hi guys, today got something very interesting! To begin with the older story, during the war Bulgarian soldiers and officers usually picked German equipment and reused it. Vehicles, weapons, clothing... everything!

And here is the interesting - Bulgarian tank hat, made from a NSKK overseas cap! The German insignia is removed and a Bulgarian lion is put on the front. Also, the top of the hat is fixed by hand-sew, so that it would not open to the sides, but stay folded and thus represent the shape needed for the Bulgarian hats. The photos do not show it well, but the lion has been there for a while - pinned tightly, it has well made its bed in the black cloth and has collected dust. Very good imprint, clearly proving the badge has been there for a while! But here are the pictures:

















/these are the genuine Bulgarian caps, which had also a flag patch on the right side. My cap has no such patch, but IMO it was put together for use somewhere at the frontlines in 1944-5, no time and no way to make the patch, too, just pinned a lion/.

[Lenny W]

interesting cap does this cap have hooks from the side scalops that hook the vent grommets or are they sewn down

[Theodor]

There are no grommets on this cap, the side parts are sewn to the main part of the hat. One is $factory sewn", because no threads are seen on the lining inside. The other side is resewn by hand, a couple of stitches through the lining, repair.

[Theodor]

Back to the old thread, because there is a sequel. Out of the woodwork, another hat! NSKK without insignia, Bulgarian lion and officer stripe added. Found it folded among some old stuff, will need some time to get in shape!

I have no doubts now, these are field made Bulgarian tank hats! No other wore black, just the tank troops. Found proper German caps somewhere during the advance of the army and converted. They were making tunics and jackets from captured fabric, the regiments had tailoring workshops in the rear, so converting a ready cap was not problem. And even the initials of the officer are indicated - V. Sh. He used the letter B on the label, which is read as V in our alphabet and added the Sh.

[NickG]

Good discovery! You've obtained solid proof that these were recycled for use by Bulgarian panzer troops. Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!!!

[erichcraciun]

Hello,

very interesting thread.

The original foto that you show: are the Bulgarian using german Panzerjacke and Totenköpfe??

Thank you

Erich

[Theodor]

Yes, they are using something very similar to the German Panzerjacke. And indeed they have the skull on the collar tabs, just like the Germans.

[wallonien]

Does any one have any idea why these panzermen are wearing whats seems to be Bulgarian lions on their collars? Bulgarian volksdeutsche/volunteers or Bulgarian tank crew before they got their own uniforms - or something else?

[Theodor]

The lions are indeed Bulgarian, but I think these are Germans. Maybe the photos are from the Balkans and the lion badges have been received as gifts from Bulgarian officers? Probably just pinned when the two armies met, as friendship gifts. Can you please show all the picture with the women?

[iac]

Does anyone else notice that the Bugarian sidecaps in the period photos look like Italian 'bustina' caps with folding front visor and a strap over the top ?

[NickG]

Does anyone else notice that the Bugarian sidecaps in the period photos look like Italian 'bustina' caps with folding front visor and a strap over the top ?

Yes that is the norm on these side caps for Bulgaria and even worn early post war with communist star added...
(exception of course are the NSKK caps pressed into service by Bulgarian panzer men, who wanted a black cap to match their German style Pz
black wrappers, as illustrated by Theodor!)

[Theodor]

And I think this photo shows exactly such cap in use!! Unfortunately it is from the internet, so we can't take a closer look, but even from what we see, it is clearly not the Bulgarian pattern /summer or winter/, but instead it is a perfect match to the NSKK cap. And no 3-color flag patch, too.