BACKGROUND: The black Panzer Wrap tunic was originally introduced by the army on November 12^TH 1934, for wear by armored vehicle personnel and was worn through-out the war with minor modifications in 1936 and 1942. Allegedly Chief of the motorized troops, Oberst Heinz Guderian came up with the coloration and design of the form fitting uniform which he based on a popular ski outfit of the time. Black was chosen as the color as it help conceal the grease and grime commonly encountered by motorized personnel. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their uniforms from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase garments of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored uniforms although the price may have been restrictive. The different branches of service within the army were allocated a particular identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with pink being chosen for Panzer, (Armored), personnel. Of Note: The general waffenfarbe for all armored units was pink although other colors were utilized including red for armored artillery units, golden yellow for armored reconnaissance units and the 24^TH Panzer Division, lemon yellow for armored signals units and, for a short time, alternating black and white for armored engineer units. On the field blouse, service tunic and Panzer wrap tunic the waffenfarbe was generally displayed on the shoulder straps/boards and the collar tabs. Originally the Panzer wrap tunics also utilized the waffenfarbe as piping on the forward edge of the collar until regulations of mid-1942 abolished the use of the collar piping and instructed it to be removed from the tunics, although the directive was not strictly adhered to.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, second pattern, (circa 1936-1945), black wool/rayon blend construction, waist length, double breasted style tunic with fold back lapels and a large lay down collar. The left front closure panel of the tunic has three, hidden, button eyelets and an additional, three, visible button eyelets on the fold back lapel. Interestingly, the right front closure panel has four large and three smaller corresponding buttons intact. The additional large button with no corresponding button eyelet may indicate the tunic was shortened. The edge of the right front closure panel has an additional, two, small, buttons positioned underneath the overlapping left closure panel with two, corresponding, internal, fabric loops for a secure closure with a neat appearance. The tunic also has a single metal hook and eye positioned at the forward neckline for a secure closure. The right breast has an M36 pattern, machine woven, national eagle in white threads on a cut-out, woven black rayon base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the tunic, looks to be original stitching. The right breast also has two, horizontal, thread loops for wear of an award (German Cross) and the left breast has an additional four horizontal thread loops. The tunic has no exterior pockets. The reverse of the tunic has a central, vertical, seam and two, short, vertical, tapering darts. The waistline side seams of the tunic each have four, vertically aligned, horizontal, rows of heavy stitching with a central, vertical, slash to secure the belt support hooks. The vertical slashes were not cut open and the belt support hooks are absent. The straight cut sleeve cuffs each have a vertical outside seam slash with dual, fit adjustment buttons. The tunic has sewn on shoulder boards of matte silver/aluminum Russian braid with two, stamped, natural alloy, rank pips and the 1935 Wehrmacht pattern, gilt washed, stamped alloy, Gothic style letter cypher, "L", indicating Lehr, (Training), to each, mounted on pink wool waffenfarbe bases. The shoulder board pebbled, alloy retaining buttons are intact. The tunic has a large lay down collar with the typical zig-zag reinforcement stitching to the reverse. The collar has no waffenfarbe piping as per regulations of mid-1942. The collar features the elongated, black wool collar tabs with the typical, silver washed, stamped, alloy, Danziger style Totenkopf cyphers and pink wool waffenfarbe piping to the outside edges. The Totenkopf cyphers retain about 95% of their original silver wash and are still quite clean and bright. The collar tabs are machine stitched to the collar. The interior breast panels are lined in grey cotton. The lining has a horizontal, slash, patch pocket to the right breast panel and a vertical, slash, patch pocket to the left breast panel. The interior of the tunic also has two, vertical, grey cotton straps with six stitched eyelets to each, situated at the waistline side seams to secure the belt support hooks. The interior also has a horizontal, tunnel looped, black cotton, fit adjustment drawstring to each of the waistline side panels. The right breast panel is well marked with black, size inkstamps, the manufacturer’s name that appears to be, Paul Opalla & Co.", and "E39", indicating the tunic passed through the army’s clothing depot in Erfurt in 1939. The tunic is in overall very good condition with areas of minor nap wear and age and usage toning and a couple of small tears to the reverse of the left lapel. The shoulder board retaining buttons are the pebbled, alloy type while the balance of the buttons are the molded black and grey bakelite type and all appear to have their original stitching. The tunic is roughly size 36" chest. Very nice example.. looks untouched and all original.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $6,435.00