German Army NCO/EM Panzer Beret (with white insignia)
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 20.GOR.01.03.02.01.002.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
This beret consists of two pieces: a crash helmet, which served to protect the heads of the panzer crew from injuries sustained when the vehicle was motoring over rough terrain, and a cover. The crash helmet is round-shaped, constructed with approximately 50 mm wide, reinforced, heavily padded band; the exterior and rolls covered in machine spun black wool. The indentation between the two rolls acts as a receiver for the elastic band on the covering beret, ensuring a secure fit.
There are eight evenly spaced grommets placed around the circumference of the crash helmet, and nine evenly spaced grommets placed on top around the edges; the grommets are used for ventilation, and are constructed of black bakelite. There is a 47mm wide tan leather sweatband stitched in place, stamped "56" on the inside; the backside of leather sweatband is marked "81" and "8./Pz.R.2".
Interior of beret is constructed of padded black artificial silk, marked in silvery letters by the maker ""Robert Lubstein Berlin N.W. 21 Alt-Moabit 105".
The covering beret also in machine spun black wool, it's lappet (pompom) on top intact, with an underlying elastic sewn in place at the opening, enabling the beret to be secured to the crash helmet. The front has two machine woven insignias sewn in place: a white embroidered right-facing National eagle standing upon a wreathed swastika, on a black wool base, above an embroidered wreathed National cockade illustrating a red, white and black cockade surrounded by an open-ended wreath of oak leafs and acorns. The beret and crash helmet measure approximately 220mm x 230 mm x 120 mm in height when placed together. The black wool covering on the crash helmet and beret is without interruptions in the fabric, exhibiting just minor wear and age.
The Panzer Beret is a two-piece construction. It features a black Basque style beret worn over a crash helmet. The helmet was made of heavy padded felt material.
On the front is a cockade in red, white, and black, as well as the national eagle above it, both on a black cloth backing. The insignia were made of silver aluminum wire for officers and regular thread for NCOs and EMs. The NCO/EM insignia were initially in white, however in 1939 this was changed to silver-grey.
Several special versions of this beret exist. Assault gun crews wore the beret in field-grey with insignia in mouse-grey or dark green. A winter version was issued that included a fur cover, which was either removable or permanently attached. An experimental grey-green version was produced in 1940. The cover of this version has a different design that is porous.
Production of the beret was discontinued on January 15, 1941. However, issued examples were worn throughout the war.
Comments
Sign in to comment and reply.
COMMUNITY
ACCOUNT
Scroll Top
