RARE GERMAN ARMY MODEL 1938 OFFICER PANZER RECONNAISSANCE FIELD CAP

$1,500.00

Quantity Available: 1

Item Code: 2024-189

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Exceptional German overseas field cap with rare copper-brown piping denoting elite panzer reconnaissance (Panzer-Aufklärungs) troops.  This is a private purchase example of very high quality.  The cap has officer’s silver edge piping, as well as a silver-colored eagle (vice gray), raised national cockade, and a partial leather sweat band in the front interior, all also characteristics of an officer’s cap.  More significantly, the soutache (colored chevron on the front) is the copper-brown branch color of panzer reconnaissance troops.  Panzer reconnaissance battalions were assigned to panzer (armored) divisions to provide scouting operations ahead of the advance, so they served literally at the “tip of the spear.”  They also screened the division’s flanks and front when in a static position.

The copper-brown Waffenfarbe (branch color) entered service in 1939.  It is a rare color to find today because most panzer reconnaissance troops preferred to wear the rose-pink branch color of panzer units (note: some panzer reconnaissance battalions also wore the gold-yellow branch color of cavalry if the panzer division had been created from a former light division). However, the copper-brown branch color is known to have been worn by panzer reconnaissance troops of Rommel’s Deutsche Afrika Korps (DAK); specifically, Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 3 of 21st Panzer Division and Panzer-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 33 of 15th Panzer Division.

Robert J. Edwards’ excellent book, Scouts Out: A History of German Armored Reconnaissance Units in World War II, includes a detailed study of the insignia and branch colors used by German panzer reconnaissance and confirms the use of copper-brown in North Africa.  The copper-brown branch color was removed from service in 1943.

The cap is in overall exceptional condition.  It exhibits light wear and the exterior fabric and interior lining have no soiling, stains, or tears.  It does have one small moth hole at the left rear.  The cap is unmarked because it was privately purchased by an officer and would have been custom fitted by a tailor.

Copper-brown remains the rarest German army branch color from World War II, making this an excellent opportunity to obtain a collector grade cap in a very hard-to-find Waffenfarbe.  It would make a wonderful addition to German headgear, panzer, or Afrika Corps collection!   [ad] [ph:L]

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