H044894 PANZERJÄGER MAJOR'S SHOULDER BOARDS. (Schulterstücke)

BACKGROUND: Although military ranks and rank designations can be traced back to the mercenary armies of the 17TH century it wasn’t until the creation of standing armies in the early 18TH century that distinguishing insignia of rank began to be developed. Originally the shoulder straps were functional items designed to secure the saber and ammunition shoulder cross straps and the larger, metal trimmed epaulettes were a throw back to the protective shoulder pieces worn on medieval armor. By 1800 the epaulettes had lost their protective function and were retained as a badge of rank. In 1866 a new system of rank distinguishing Officer’s shoulder boards were introduced to replace the previously worn epaulettes although the epaulettes were retained for the parade and dress uniforms. Although the officer’s shoulder boards underwent numerous minor modifications they remained basically the same right up until the end of WWII. The different branches of service within the German army were allocated a particular identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), which was displayed as the base on the shoulder boards with pink being chosen for Panzer and Panzerjäger, (Armored and Anti tank), 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Slip on shoulder boards of interwoven, matte, silver/aluminum Russian braid with gilt washed, stamped alloy, 1935 Wehrmacht pattern, Gothic "P" cypher all mounted on a pink wool waffenfarbe base. Of Note: The Gothic "P" cypher indicated, Panzerjäger, which literally translated means "Armor hunter", but figuratively indicated "Anti tank" personnel. Nice set!

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $595.00

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