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H062657 HAUPTMANN'S BLACK PANZER WRAP TUNIC. (Feldjacke)
BACKGROUND: The black panzer wrap tunic was originally introduced by the army on November 12TH 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 specific, 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 24TH 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 four, hidden, button eyelets and an additional, three, visible button eyelets on the fold back lapel. The right front closure panel has four, large and three smaller corresponding buttons intact. 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 top button eyelet on the left lapel has an Iron Cross 2ND class ribbon inserted and handstitched in place. Breast eagle is removed. 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, silver washed, stamped, alloy, rank pips to each, mounted on pink wool waffenfarbe bases. The shoulder boards each have small puncture scars that seem to indicate a cypher had been applied at one time. 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 75% of their original silver wash with some light surface spotting and pitting. The Totenkopf cyphers are handstitched to the collar tabs which are machine stitched to the collar. The interior breast panels are lined in ribbed grey cotton twill. 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, grey cotton, fit adjustment drawstring to each of the waistline side panels. The right breast panel is well marked with faint, black, size inkstamps, and what appears to be, "B39", indicating the tunic passed through the army’s clothing depot in Berlin in 1939. The right breast panel also has additional, faint, black and blue inkstamps that appear to included Cyrillic script indicating the tunic was in Soviet possession at one time. The lining has some unusual rust colored staining. The tunic is in overall good condition with areas of minor nap wear and age and usage toning and a couple of small tears and handstitched repairs. The shoulder board retaining buttons are the pebbled, alloy type while the balance of the buttons are a combination of the molded black bakelite and plastic types and about half appear to have been restitched. The tunic is roughly size 40" chest. As with any of the tunics that came out of the Russia in the late 80's, many where stripped and then restored. The tabs are most probably restored to the jacket as possibly is the rest of the insignia. Still a nice jacket, just needs an eagle.
GRADE ***1/2 PRICE $4,070.00
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