I'm amazed at how many people are commenting on how complicated it was. :-) I suppose if you're living in it 24/7/365 it becomes second nature. No doubt some of the elements were over-complex (the waffenfarbe system was retained in both the Bundeswehr and the NVA, but simplified to something a little more sane). But once one gets into the weeds of the other militaries, one finds a set of traditions and organization nearly as complex.
It's only really complicated if you see it all crammed down into a 15 minute video. Keep in mind most of the changes were subtle and strechted over 12 years or more.
Yes, it is fairly complicated, and the German Army during WW2 was rather strict and discipline was harsh. But remember: as a recruit these details are literally repeated daily, for months. Make a tiny mistake, like forget to do up a button, and you'd get to run 5 or 10 km with a full kit. Maybe your entire unit would be punished. Maybe it was even beaten into you. That is even true in armed forces across the world today. I've been there. That kind of psychology to "make" a soldier. Make him obey ANY command. Make him think like a part of a unit, is especially effective in young men aged 17 to about 25.That is why militaries prefer people in that age group, and why men are conscripted at age 18 to early twenties. They are easier to "mold", so to speak.
Remember that this video covers a whole range of uniforms for different units, over time. You just had to get it right for your own unit, and once you had completed your training. When a German soldier out in the middle of nowhere in Russia, he didn't care mich how his uniform looked (unless the unit was inspected by high ranking officers or states. He just wanted to be recognizable and that he had enough clothes, food and cigarettes.
yunno honestly im just glad to be part of a growing channel soon to be known to many. Good luck man. i hope your channel grows to 500K and above! Climb to the top!
I appreciate the sentiments. Truth be told, I'm less concerned in growing stats than just providing content that I find of interest, and hopefully others do as well. I am gratified and humbled by the response to the channel and grateful for the kind words.
HandGrenadeDivision no problem. And we're glad we've found a channel that enjoys shat they're doing rather than follow trends and such. But we few 9.8K are glad to be here to make the channel grow
Always curious about these! At some point I even learned about one infantry division that for some reason wore feldgrau panzer wrap and splittertarn helmcovers. Crazy hahah! Or the numerous full camouflage panzer wraps and overalls.
I recall an anecdote I heard many years ago about a fellow, possibly returning from hospital to his infantry unit, who was in need of a new uniform and all they had was a black panzer uniform. Without a hat. So he wore it into action, got captured, and to pass the time made his own hat out of a blanket. There are lots of stories like that, which don't make it into a lot of uniform books.
@@cheng3580 I don't remember. I encountered it on a forum while trying to do research on my unit. They were put in belgium late war. The same thread talked about units with pre war gear in the beginning of the war.
@@cheng3580 I think Panzer-Lehr Division (which, as the name states, was basically a tank school transformed into an armoured division during the landings in Normandy)
It was a Panzergrenadier regiment of Panzer-Lehr division, not a whole infantry division. I want to collect uniform pieces in the future to make an NCO impression on this lol
YES! You got the Jäger/Gebirgsjäger vs. Panzergrenadier greens correct! Far too many reenactors get that wrong (even the--otherwise good--company At The Front), by switching those two. This seems to be because of the 1943 U.S. Army manual which got it wrong, assuming that the Jäger "Hellgrün" or "light green" applied to the "lightest" green that they had seen. But they had not realized that the "light green" originated before the war, when there was no such thing as "Panzergrenadier", and was "light" compared to the "Dunkelgrün" or "dark green" used by administrative branches.
Some of these tanks without a turret was used to help the infantry, while others of them was used to help other German tanks. So the first group had grey uniforms like the infantry and the other group had black uniforms, if I understand this video correctly.
Just found your channel and subbed. As a modeller this is invaluable information. I knew a lot of this but never saw it presented in such a logic way. Outstanding! I'll send you a mail. Greetings from Germany, Jens
Thanks for making this video. Currently I'm putting together a 7th panzer division kit for re-enactment. Of all the sources online this is the best by far.
Otto Carius in his book Tiger im schlamm (Tigers in the mud) pointed out the confusion many Allied soldiers especially Americans had over the black panzer tunics with deaths head insignia on the collar. On 8th May 1945 he and his driver went over to the American lines under flag of truce to arrange the surrender of the surviving jadtigers of 2 section 512 S pz abt under his command. He was surprised when the American officer who came to arrange the surrender first question was "Are you SS". Carius had to point out that panzer crews had worn black uniforms with the deaths head insignia well before the Wuffen SS were founded.
These videos are seriously amazing. I think you should make a video about the Luftwaffe Field Divisions (something which is hardly ever talked about from what I've seen). Keep making great videos!
Thank you, Jack. I agree that the German Air Force's field divisions are a fascinating study. I doubt I am the one to talk about them as I haven't researched much beyond the basic sources, but they are in the back of my mind. Perhaps if I uncover something really juicy and unique, I will put it up on the channel. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
@@chefbradthebluefam1783 I think you mean *Drittes Reich Deutsches Kriegsmarinewaffe* or maybe stop flexing your basic knowledge on genuinely curious people
@@HandGrenadeDivision plz no.... haha. I am aware of some WW2 items, but they are few and far between. $400 for a tin of Schokakola is a bit much for 75 year old energy chocolate.
Well, truth be told, I was thinking more of recipes using modern ingredients, cooked in the old-fashioned way (tin cauldron over an asbestos fire), but now that you mention it, seeing you describe the 'mouth-feel' of a 1944 Schoka would be worth the price of admission....
I remember there being a comment here wondering what other branch colors might have appeared on panzer wraps but I can't seem to find it. Recently I stumbled upon a thread on Wehrmacht awards forum discussing medical panzer uniforms. The thread started with photos of what seemed to be an original panzer wrap with regular pink collar and collar tab piping but with medical leutnants shoulder boards and there were plenty original photos of guys in panzer wraps visibly wearing the staff of aesculapius cyphers on their shoulder boards and a couple of examples of original panzer tabs with blue piping further down the thread. Apparently Scott Pritchett's book on the panzer uniforms delves into this sort of insignia. There was also another bit of interesting lore of tanks with at least one doctor in the crew having a stylized staff of aesculapius emblem painted on the turret.
There was also some controversy around Heinz Guderian's uniform in various discussion groups, and the question being if he mixed the waffenfarbe - pink piped patches but red underlay on general officer's shoulder boards.
Wow, and all the movies just have one basic uniform that stands in for everyone. It's interesting how, just like the rest of German infrastructure, politics, government, etc. during that time, there was a mess of different things happening and changing constantly.
This was helpful for looking into re enactment kit concepts, im looking into the usage of black AVF jackets in Stug units (not SS) as thats the key uniform I'm looking into creating so this was abig help
You may have only a few videos my friend but they are very good. I do G I reenacting and even we sometimes have to explain to people small things about German uniforms
It wasn't the entire German cavalry though which had this as an emblem. It was only one single specific (albeit redoubtable) unit of the Prussian Hussars as far as I know.
The tank had an internal communications (intercom) system so they could talk to each other. The tank commander/radio operator was also in radio communication with other tanks in the platoon/company.
Hey great content! I was wondering what you used to make the visuals, like if you have templates, what program do you use, etc. Thanks and again you put some great content.
Thanks for taking the time to respond, and the kind words. A number of different software programs for different needs. Believe it or not, artwork begins in Microsoft Paint.
Interesting. I got a Panzer officer visor, and grey uniform. Plus a Panzer Grenadier visor with uniform. I still need a grey assault crew wrap. Been collecting military items since 1985! Just got an SS Fez.
I don't find hair-raising stories of alleged Allied atrocities very convincing. I expect the change was rooted in service traditions - similar fights occurred in the Commonwealth forces for example in the same period, as horsed cavalry units were modernized into armoured units. Tank units there had actually begun as part of the infantry branch, yet the traits of rapid movement and exploitation were cavalry traits and so the struggle was to decide which traditions to adopt. It may have been the same for the Germans - the panzer (tank) troops wore the skull as an obvious tribute to the cavalry forces of Frederick the Great who loomed large in German military history. The assault gun troops, however, were probably not seen as the striking, slashing, fast moving force the panzer men regarded themselves to be, making the use of the traditional cavalry badge inappropriate? This is only speculation on my part. The 24th Panzer Division, which I did not mention in the video, actually outfitted their tank crews in black uniforms with the cavalry's golden-yellow branch colour since they were a reorganization of the 1st Cavalry Division.
From what a reenactor was telling me, the skull patches were prohibited due to a lot of SPG crews ripping the skulls off if they were overrun, due to mis-identification by soviet troops who saw a skull and didn't ask questions. If the skull wasn't there, they'd have a higher chance of just being captured.
@Der Kavallerist I don't remember what kind of Army unit it was, but it was near the end of the war where they found a warehouse of SA uniforms. Their regular uniforms were trashed so they put those brown shirts on. They ended up getting captured and of course were mistaken for SA.
Howdy! I have a quick question regarding 8:04 "Towed gun crews continued to use the standard field uniform. Both towed and self-propelled anti-tank units were distinguished by rose pink branch color piping..." Does this apply to the towed anti-tank gun units in infantry divisions or only to those in panzer units? If the latter, what piping was used on the uniforms of anti-tank gun crews in infantry divisions? Thank you for your time.
I suppose it would depend on whether they were in a regimental gun company (usually the 14th Company of every infantry regiment) or the divisional anti-tank battalion. The former would wear white, the latter rosa (pink) arm of service colour.
@@HandGrenadeDivision Thanks for the reply! In any case, would it be correct to assume that one generally would not see towed AT gun crews with artillery's red piping? Only white/rose? I would also assume when it comes to platoon weapons that these were crewed by men in the standard uniform with white infantry branch color- i.e. LeIG 18, heavy machinegun tripods, etc. I have never really been able to find clear info on where the line is drawn between infantry weapons, artillery, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, etc. If you're familiar with source material on this topic I'd be keen to learn more.
@@viarr2893 that would be my general perception, but I've learned never to say "never" when discussing military matters, particularly what the Germans wore....
@@HandGrenadeDivision Indeed! Thanks for your insight. Just in case for future reference, are you open to communication regarding business inquiries and/or historical discussion? If so, what would your preferred method of contact be? Thank you for your time.
Can you do german military police uniforms at some point, and compare the uniforms of the Feldgendarmerie, Feldjagertruppes, Heerestreifendienst, Marinekustenpolizei, ect.
Very interesting. Thanks for the video. Isn't it just typically German to go a little bit "overboard", when it comes to small uniform details? Haha. No offense to any Germans watching of course.
What were the uniforms worn by self-propelled anti-aircraft gun crews? Were they even Heer/Waffen SS troops or were they Luftwaffe troops as was the case with many Flak units
If this was "stump the band" you would have a big fat prize right now. It's a great question. I'm not sure Edwards included them in his book, I'll have to go back and check. Not sure I've even seen that many photos of Moebelwagen and other SP Flak vehicle crews.
@@HandGrenadeDivision Yeah, I tried looking it up, but didn't get much, plus most of the photos I found of self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles didn't contain the crew, and if it did, only their heads were visible.
A side by side comparison will show the SS skulls had a full mandible (jaw) below the rows of teeth, otherwise they were quite similar. Apparently the first version of the SS 'totenkopf' badge was nearly identical to the panzer skull, but for some reason the SS changed their pattern in 1934.
How many of these units do you think were mistaken for the SS? Must be rough being a humble tankie just to get the shit kicked out of you by your captors.
Hard to say, though it's interesting to go back through period documents and see just how much effort was spent on educating soldiers about all the details of the enemy's uniforms. There are some wartime U.S. Army training films on TH-cam, and you can see the panzer uniforms specifically explained for the benefit of whomever was expected to watch these films. Unser Heer, the German Army magazine, had a whole series on Allied uniforms, weapons, rank insignia, etc. While us hobbyists and historians spend at best a few hours a week hands-on with this stuff, for the troops at the front, it was literally their entire existence for long months and years.
It's really interesting to see just how many uniform variations that the Germans went through during the course of the war. They also seemed positively obsessed with making sure that each individual branch within a given service branch had a different uniform from the other branches. That and they seemed to also obsess over being able to identify what regiment or division an individual soldier belonged to, or at least until mid to late war. But then again, I guess the US did do the same thing with their unit patches sewn on to the uniform shoulders, so I guess it's not that odd. Seeing how much the German uniforms changed throughout the war, it makes me wonder if the other major powers in WWII did the same. Take the US, aside from the change in helmet design, did US Army uniforms change much from the beginning of the war to war's end?
There were major changes to the US uniform but I would suggest these were much less cosmetic than the Germans, and more practical. The Americans had a decent layering system for their clothing, and the M43 jacket was practical and much copied after the war, setting the standard for military garments for probably 50 years. They were among the first to get rid of puttees/canvas gaiters in favour of high-top leather boots - and I don't think anyone in the world today has reverted back to leggings of any kind. They set the standard. The Russians had a huge change at about the time of Stalingrad, reviving Czarist trappings of rank that had previously been seen as inconsistent with Communism and a classless society (something the Germans also paid lip service to). When push came to shove, the shoulder boards and high collars were seen as essential for morale. The British changed a bit during the war as well, though in their case, like the Germans, mostly for austerity reasons, and as the uniform itself lost some of its sharpness, the reduced need for security they perceived meant a proliferation of unit, formation, service and trade badges sewn to the battledress that was originally meant to be bare.
@@HandGrenadeDivision US uniforms just got sloppier. Officers stopped wearing insignia. Troops collected cast offs like bomber jackets showing up in the infantry. Just a mess, really.
Part of the trend in the first decades of the 20th Century to move from bright coloured uniforms to earth tones for camouflage purposes. As for the exact shade, that is a good question which predates the Second World War. I honestly don't know.
According to Pruett and Edwards, there are reports - unconfirmed - that the panzer branch objected to sharing their insignia with the assault artillery. I can only guess (and Pruett and Edwards say as much), but I suppose their point was that the tanks were inheritors of cavalry traditions (specifically Hussar regiments), which included the skull. For what it is worth, the assault guns were already wearing artillery branch colour (red) so they dropped the skulls - though individual crews liked the skulls and retained them as long as they could. Pruett and Edwards cite Bryan Perret's Osprey book STURMARTILLERIE AND PANZERJAEGER for additional reading.
Uniforms by Hugo Boss. Large guns by Krup. Aero engines by BMW. Pistols by Walther. Trucks by Mercedes and Opel. I wonder what happened to all these companies.........
Hey man, I know you are geared towards WW2 and mostly the german part. Do you think you could cover some interwar before 1933 or some World War I stuff?
Honestly, I wouldn't do justice to it. I would love to know more about the German rank system in the First World War, for example, but I don't think I would be doing the topic any great service by just looking stuff up in a book and then cranking out a video on it. Far better for someone with a deep understanding and passion for the subject to take it on. Better for you, better for the community. My focus is mainly the 65th Infantry Division in particular, and the German Army of the Second World War in particular. If someone does cover the World War I era, count me in with yourself among the interested as I think it is a very misunderstood and under-researched area of history.
I've seen images of the tank crews wearing standard tropical uniform but with the addition of the panzer skulls placed on the lower lapels. The rest of the uniform was tropical standard, including the blue and copper collar patches. I *presume* that the anti-tank and assault gun crews wore the same tropical uniform. It's a great question though and I haven't researched any of the specific units that used that equipment. I wouldn't doubt that there were some interesting variations.
@@HandGrenadeDivision Yes, it's the different variations and field modifications that make this subject (of uniforms) so interesting although very confusing. I will look into the different units using the panzerjäger in North Africa and go from there but the DAK is truly a can of worms! Thank you for your reply and for the great content you create.
The Allied forces were far too standardization and too focused on industrial quantity. The Germans on the other hand mixed craftsmanship into industrial standards. Which is why they had an assortment of uniforms, weaponry, strategy and other (very creative) things.
As I understand it, the usual Army belt buckle (or double claw buckle for officers). They would have worn a sidearm (pistol) on the belt and I believe there was room inside the vehicle to stow water bottles, mess tins and other necessities.
I'm always amazed at how complicated German uniforms & insignia were! Sometimes I wonder how they even kept up with all the changes!
I'm amazed at how many people are commenting on how complicated it was. :-) I suppose if you're living in it 24/7/365 it becomes second nature. No doubt some of the elements were over-complex (the waffenfarbe system was retained in both the Bundeswehr and the NVA, but simplified to something a little more sane). But once one gets into the weeds of the other militaries, one finds a set of traditions and organization nearly as complex.
It's only really complicated if you see it all crammed down into a 15 minute video. Keep in mind most of the changes were subtle and strechted over 12 years or more.
@@HandGrenadeDivision It does become second nature. But, got your socks and your weapon, you roll.
Yes, it is fairly complicated, and the German Army during WW2 was rather strict and discipline was harsh. But remember: as a recruit these details are literally repeated daily, for months. Make a tiny mistake, like forget to do up a button, and you'd get to run 5 or 10 km with a full kit. Maybe your entire unit would be punished. Maybe it was even beaten into you. That is even true in armed forces across the world today. I've been there. That kind of psychology to "make" a soldier. Make him obey ANY command. Make him think like a part of a unit, is especially effective in young men aged 17 to about 25.That is why militaries prefer people in that age group, and why men are conscripted at age 18 to early twenties. They are easier to "mold", so to speak.
Remember that this video covers a whole range of uniforms for different units, over time. You just had to get it right for your own unit, and once you had completed your training. When a German soldier out in the middle of nowhere in Russia, he didn't care mich how his uniform looked (unless the unit was inspected by high ranking officers or states. He just wanted to be recognizable and that he had enough clothes, food and cigarettes.
yunno honestly im just glad to be part of a growing channel soon to be known to many. Good luck man. i hope your channel grows to 500K and above!
Climb to the top!
I appreciate the sentiments. Truth be told, I'm less concerned in growing stats than just providing content that I find of interest, and hopefully others do as well. I am gratified and humbled by the response to the channel and grateful for the kind words.
HandGrenadeDivision no problem. And we're glad we've found a channel that enjoys shat they're doing rather than follow trends and such. But we few 9.8K are glad to be here to make the channel grow
I agree
You don't put out much content, but what you are making is of the highest quality.
It was actually nice that you had “Panzerlied” play at the start :)
Nicely followed by the not as well known 'Panzerjazz' score.
Always curious about these! At some point I even learned about one infantry division that for some reason wore feldgrau panzer wrap and splittertarn helmcovers. Crazy hahah! Or the numerous full camouflage panzer wraps and overalls.
Which unit was this?
I recall an anecdote I heard many years ago about a fellow, possibly returning from hospital to his infantry unit, who was in need of a new uniform and all they had was a black panzer uniform. Without a hat. So he wore it into action, got captured, and to pass the time made his own hat out of a blanket. There are lots of stories like that, which don't make it into a lot of uniform books.
@@cheng3580 I don't remember. I encountered it on a forum while trying to do research on my unit. They were put in belgium late war. The same thread talked about units with pre war gear in the beginning of the war.
@@cheng3580 I think Panzer-Lehr Division (which, as the name states, was basically a tank school transformed into an armoured division during the landings in Normandy)
It was a Panzergrenadier regiment of Panzer-Lehr division, not a whole infantry division. I want to collect uniform pieces in the future to make an NCO impression on this lol
YES! You got the Jäger/Gebirgsjäger vs. Panzergrenadier greens correct! Far too many reenactors get that wrong (even the--otherwise good--company At The Front), by switching those two. This seems to be because of the 1943 U.S. Army manual which got it wrong, assuming that the Jäger "Hellgrün" or "light green" applied to the "lightest" green that they had seen. But they had not realized that the "light green" originated before the war, when there was no such thing as "Panzergrenadier", and was "light" compared to the "Dunkelgrün" or "dark green" used by administrative branches.
I've seen Jagdpanther crews in all grey panzer uniforms and Jagdtiger crews with the black panzer wrap and field grey trousers. Very confusing
Depends on suppy, may not have right uniform on hand so issue what was
@88Gibson LesPaul - The Jagdpanther was definitely crewed by Panzerjagers. It is not assault artillery.
Some of these tanks without a turret was used to help the infantry, while others of them was used to help other German tanks. So the first group had grey uniforms like the infantry and the other group had black uniforms, if I understand this video correctly.
By that time trained troops were in short supply, and could have been collected from one of the many disbanded units.
No it’s not. When you take into account craftsmanship into massive industrial production; then it all makes more sense.
Just found your channel and subbed. As a modeller this is invaluable information. I knew a lot of this but never saw it presented in such a logic way. Outstanding! I'll send you a mail. Greetings from Germany, Jens
Thanks for making this video. Currently I'm putting together a 7th panzer division kit for re-enactment. Of all the sources online this is the best by far.
A very big THANK YOU. I pretty much searched the subject, but it seemed endless. With this video, I can better circumscribe my readings.
I like that you took the panzerlied into the video
This was very well done. Thank you!
Otto Carius in his book Tiger im schlamm (Tigers in the mud) pointed out the confusion many Allied soldiers especially Americans had over the black panzer tunics with deaths head insignia on the collar. On 8th May 1945 he and his driver went over to the American lines under flag of truce to arrange the surrender of the surviving jadtigers of 2 section 512 S pz abt under his command. He was surprised when the American officer who came to arrange the surrender first question was "Are you SS". Carius had to point out that panzer crews had worn black uniforms with the deaths head insignia well before the Wuffen SS were founded.
And the misconception continues till today.
These videos are seriously amazing. I think you should make a video about the Luftwaffe Field Divisions (something which is hardly ever talked about from what I've seen). Keep making great videos!
Thank you, Jack. I agree that the German Air Force's field divisions are a fascinating study. I doubt I am the one to talk about them as I haven't researched much beyond the basic sources, but they are in the back of my mind. Perhaps if I uncover something really juicy and unique, I will put it up on the channel. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
@@HandGrenadeDivision No problem! If I find anything interesting about them I'll make sure to forward it to you.
Would you make a video on Luftwaffe field uniforms, and HG division as well?
@Marcelo Henrique Soares da Silva I think you mean _Kriegsmarine_
@@chefbradthebluefam1783 I think you mean *Drittes Reich Deutsches Kriegsmarinewaffe*
or maybe stop flexing your basic knowledge on genuinely curious people
@@JohnsonTheSecond you should become a super hero
Captain Kraut (sorry if it offends)
And your side kick can be Blitz Boy.
I actually got more interested in the postwar german forces now because of this series
thanks for your commitment
Phew! What an excellent resource and must have been painstakingly put together. Thank you so much
I'm looking forward to your series on German Army menu items, particularly the taste test....
@@HandGrenadeDivision plz no.... haha. I am aware of some WW2 items, but they are few and far between. $400 for a tin of Schokakola is a bit much for 75 year old energy chocolate.
Well, truth be told, I was thinking more of recipes using modern ingredients, cooked in the old-fashioned way (tin cauldron over an asbestos fire), but now that you mention it, seeing you describe the 'mouth-feel' of a 1944 Schoka would be worth the price of admission....
I remember there being a comment here wondering what other branch colors might have appeared on panzer wraps but I can't seem to find it.
Recently I stumbled upon a thread on Wehrmacht awards forum discussing medical panzer uniforms. The thread started with photos of what seemed to be an original panzer wrap with regular pink collar and collar tab piping but with medical leutnants shoulder boards and there were plenty original photos of guys in panzer wraps visibly wearing the staff of aesculapius cyphers on their shoulder boards and a couple of examples of original panzer tabs with blue piping further down the thread. Apparently Scott Pritchett's book on the panzer uniforms delves into this sort of insignia.
There was also another bit of interesting lore of tanks with at least one doctor in the crew having a stylized staff of aesculapius emblem painted on the turret.
Yes, I think one of the editions of PANZER COLORS by Squadron Signal shows the medical tank - a PzKpfw II if memory serves.
There was also some controversy around Heinz Guderian's uniform in various discussion groups, and the question being if he mixed the waffenfarbe - pink piped patches but red underlay on general officer's shoulder boards.
This is so complete, so many informations and so many variations throughout time.
Hope to see more of videos of this type.
Wow, and all the movies just have one basic uniform that stands in for everyone. It's interesting how, just like the rest of German infrastructure, politics, government, etc. during that time, there was a mess of different things happening and changing constantly.
This was really interesting and made for really good reference pictures for my drawing endeavors. Thanks!
This was helpful for looking into re enactment kit concepts, im looking into the usage of black AVF jackets in Stug units (not SS) as thats the key uniform I'm looking into creating so this was abig help
Good video, again! Can't wait for another video.
Great work as always. Compliment! I wait a video about DAK uniforms
I woke up to this, my day has been made!
You may have only a few videos my friend but they are very good. I do G I reenacting and even we sometimes have to explain to people small things about German uniforms
Great video. Keep up the amazing content!
Epic video!
I've always wondered about why Panzer crew uniforms had skulls on their uniform, and now, I know why.
It wasn't the entire German cavalry though which had this as an emblem. It was only one single specific (albeit redoubtable) unit of the Prussian Hussars as far as I know.
I've always confused it with the SS Death Skull from distances. Now I won't get myself confused when I see a Tanker uniform with the Skull.
apparently tank crews that had the deathshead symbol where mistaken by the Russians to be SS and thus were given no mercy
Probably SS?
@@tidepod10yearsago97 no , I think The SS is using their SS rank instead of deathshead symbol
I needed this video
You guys answered some questions i really couldnt find the answer to. Thanks!❤
Awesome video! At this rate you’ll be one of the best ww2 channels. Love the videos regarding uniform regulations 👍👍
Would you be making the fallschrimjager uniform?
Will you ever do informative videos on the Schutzstaffel?
Wasn't expecting a new video so soon. What a nice surprise. Hope you keep up the good work.
Bravo Sir, very informative and nice presentation. Keep up the great work. Thank you
I love rhis type of videos with uniform comparison
Fantastic video, as always! The artworks make the evolution of uniforms really clear.
Would you be willing to make videos for other countries?
Could you do a video on the variants of German camouflage in ww II? Love the videos thanks for all the knowledge!
Brilliant. Really informative. Well Done. 👍👍
Thanks so much for your videos!
Ahh, the speciality of German Armed forces: "Overcomplication"
Yes! New Video :D
Love the quality, waiting for the next one now^^
Wunderbar !
Great vid I found it really informative! keep making awsome vids!!
Great job with the art, really is well done. But could you possibly do a video on the Allies as well,only if you'd like to but I would appreciate it.
I had no Idea the Variety of Uniforms and Insignia the germans had. Must off been a tad confusing for early entry soldiers
Outstanding
Great channel! Subscribed.
Super interesting! Thanks
1:02 he blinks
Excellent job, keep it up!!! :-)
I Love your videos so much
Notice the Totenkopf badges and black uniforms on the early Panzertruppen. They were not SS, but regular Wehrmacht mobile troops.
awesome video
Can someone explain why they wear headphones? Pls I wanna know. anyways outstanding video!
The tank had an internal communications (intercom) system so they could talk to each other. The tank commander/radio operator was also in radio communication with other tanks in the platoon/company.
@@HandGrenadeDivision thanks :)
Hey great content! I was wondering what you used to make the visuals, like if you have templates, what program do you use, etc. Thanks and again you put some great content.
Thanks for taking the time to respond, and the kind words. A number of different software programs for different needs. Believe it or not, artwork begins in Microsoft Paint.
More changes than London Fashion week!
Interesting. I got a Panzer officer visor, and grey uniform. Plus a Panzer Grenadier visor with uniform. I still need a grey assault crew wrap.
Been collecting military items since 1985! Just got an SS Fez.
Please make a video about the uniforms of ground units luftwaffe or luftwaffe field division.
can you do a video on the german stanse and salute during this time?
Wonder how many allied troops confused them for SS due to the black uniform and skull badges.
Why were the skull patches prohibited in 1943?
I don't find hair-raising stories of alleged Allied atrocities very convincing. I expect the change was rooted in service traditions - similar fights occurred in the Commonwealth forces for example in the same period, as horsed cavalry units were modernized into armoured units. Tank units there had actually begun as part of the infantry branch, yet the traits of rapid movement and exploitation were cavalry traits and so the struggle was to decide which traditions to adopt. It may have been the same for the Germans - the panzer (tank) troops wore the skull as an obvious tribute to the cavalry forces of Frederick the Great who loomed large in German military history. The assault gun troops, however, were probably not seen as the striking, slashing, fast moving force the panzer men regarded themselves to be, making the use of the traditional cavalry badge inappropriate? This is only speculation on my part. The 24th Panzer Division, which I did not mention in the video, actually outfitted their tank crews in black uniforms with the cavalry's golden-yellow branch colour since they were a reorganization of the 1st Cavalry Division.
From what a reenactor was telling me, the skull patches were prohibited due to a lot of SPG crews ripping the skulls off if they were overrun, due to mis-identification by soviet troops who saw a skull and didn't ask questions. If the skull wasn't there, they'd have a higher chance of just being captured.
@@ichigo9919 Even if that is true, it wouldn't explain why tank and anti-tank crews were ordered to keep the skulls.
@Der Kavallerist I don't remember what kind of Army unit it was, but it was near the end of the war where they found a warehouse of SA uniforms. Their regular uniforms were trashed so they put those brown shirts on. They ended up getting captured and of course were mistaken for SA.
@@HandGrenadeDivision this is irrelevant to the discussion but I was wondering, Could you make a video on Afrika korps uniforms next?
I am an Italian model maker your videos are very interesting and complete. Hello
Howdy!
I have a quick question regarding 8:04
"Towed gun crews continued to use the standard field uniform. Both towed and self-propelled anti-tank units were distinguished by rose pink branch color piping..."
Does this apply to the towed anti-tank gun units in infantry divisions or only to those in panzer units? If the latter, what piping was used on the uniforms of anti-tank gun crews in infantry divisions?
Thank you for your time.
I suppose it would depend on whether they were in a regimental gun company (usually the 14th Company of every infantry regiment) or the divisional anti-tank battalion. The former would wear white, the latter rosa (pink) arm of service colour.
@@HandGrenadeDivision Thanks for the reply! In any case, would it be correct to assume that one generally would not see towed AT gun crews with artillery's red piping? Only white/rose?
I would also assume when it comes to platoon weapons that these were crewed by men in the standard uniform with white infantry branch color- i.e. LeIG 18, heavy machinegun tripods, etc. I have never really been able to find clear info on where the line is drawn between infantry weapons, artillery, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, etc. If you're familiar with source material on this topic I'd be keen to learn more.
@@viarr2893 that would be my general perception, but I've learned never to say "never" when discussing military matters, particularly what the Germans wore....
@@HandGrenadeDivision Indeed! Thanks for your insight. Just in case for future reference, are you open to communication regarding business inquiries and/or historical discussion? If so, what would your preferred method of contact be? Thank you for your time.
I can only imagine my head spinning after every change.
Yea, probably smart not to go into the deep, confusing category of Luftwaffe armored vehicle uniforms.
Do a version of this video using the evolution of The Afrika Korps uniform
Can you do german military police uniforms at some point, and compare the uniforms of the Feldgendarmerie, Feldjagertruppes, Heerestreifendienst, Marinekustenpolizei, ect.
@Nobody Knows It's not that hard when you learn to recognize them.
I up you Bund Deutscher Mädel, Nachrichten Helferin, Reichsluftschutzbund, Strassenbahn Schaffnerin, and Luftwaffenhelfer!
Very interesting video ..
Nice version of Panzerlied at the start
Hello, i just discovered your work, would you be interested into a partnership for a video about 1940 panzer uniform I’m preparing?
If you send me an email at webmaster@handgrenadedivision.com I'd be happy to discuss with you privately.
Maybe you could do the ranks of the waffen ss and their uniforms
This is just crazy how much time was wasted for all these uniforms.
What uniform does Klaus Jager wear on T-34 end fight battle? I've been searching it for a months now
Good video I like to german army and ss winter combat uniform please
Very interesting. Thanks for the video. Isn't it just typically German to go a little bit "overboard", when it comes to small uniform details? Haha. No offense to any Germans watching of course.
Great job. What a mess for them!
Can you do something about the Finnish army
What were the uniforms worn by self-propelled anti-aircraft gun crews? Were they even Heer/Waffen SS troops or were they Luftwaffe troops as was the case with many Flak units
If this was "stump the band" you would have a big fat prize right now. It's a great question. I'm not sure Edwards included them in his book, I'll have to go back and check. Not sure I've even seen that many photos of Moebelwagen and other SP Flak vehicle crews.
@@HandGrenadeDivision Yeah, I tried looking it up, but didn't get much, plus most of the photos I found of self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles didn't contain the crew, and if it did, only their heads were visible.
What's the difference between the panzer and SS skull?
A side by side comparison will show the SS skulls had a full mandible (jaw) below the rows of teeth, otherwise they were quite similar. Apparently the first version of the SS 'totenkopf' badge was nearly identical to the panzer skull, but for some reason the SS changed their pattern in 1934.
@@HandGrenadeDivision do they both have roots in Frederik the great era cavalry totenkopf or does that ss totenkopf come from some other way?
I haven't researched the origins of the SS skull so couldn't give an intelligent answer.
@@ninaakari5181 Late but the SS Totenkopf skull was originally meant to be similar to the Prussian Hussar Guards, who wore the same Totenkopf skull.
How many of these units do you think were mistaken for the SS? Must be rough being a humble tankie just to get the shit kicked out of you by your captors.
Hard to say, though it's interesting to go back through period documents and see just how much effort was spent on educating soldiers about all the details of the enemy's uniforms. There are some wartime U.S. Army training films on TH-cam, and you can see the panzer uniforms specifically explained for the benefit of whomever was expected to watch these films. Unser Heer, the German Army magazine, had a whole series on Allied uniforms, weapons, rank insignia, etc. While us hobbyists and historians spend at best a few hours a week hands-on with this stuff, for the troops at the front, it was literally their entire existence for long months and years.
@@HandGrenadeDivision I’d love to see that Heer article on Allied insignia!
That should be enough to drive any quartermaster to certified insanity!
It's really interesting to see just how many uniform variations that the Germans went through during the course of the war. They also seemed positively obsessed with making sure that each individual branch within a given service branch had a different uniform from the other branches. That and they seemed to also obsess over being able to identify what regiment or division an individual soldier belonged to, or at least until mid to late war. But then again, I guess the US did do the same thing with their unit patches sewn on to the uniform shoulders, so I guess it's not that odd.
Seeing how much the German uniforms changed throughout the war, it makes me wonder if the other major powers in WWII did the same. Take the US, aside from the change in helmet design, did US Army uniforms change much from the beginning of the war to war's end?
There were major changes to the US uniform but I would suggest these were much less cosmetic than the Germans, and more practical. The Americans had a decent layering system for their clothing, and the M43 jacket was practical and much copied after the war, setting the standard for military garments for probably 50 years. They were among the first to get rid of puttees/canvas gaiters in favour of high-top leather boots - and I don't think anyone in the world today has reverted back to leggings of any kind. They set the standard. The Russians had a huge change at about the time of Stalingrad, reviving Czarist trappings of rank that had previously been seen as inconsistent with Communism and a classless society (something the Germans also paid lip service to). When push came to shove, the shoulder boards and high collars were seen as essential for morale. The British changed a bit during the war as well, though in their case, like the Germans, mostly for austerity reasons, and as the uniform itself lost some of its sharpness, the reduced need for security they perceived meant a proliferation of unit, formation, service and trade badges sewn to the battledress that was originally meant to be bare.
@@HandGrenadeDivision US uniforms just got sloppier. Officers stopped wearing insignia. Troops collected cast offs like bomber jackets showing up in the infantry. Just a mess, really.
why is field gray a shade of green
Part of the trend in the first decades of the 20th Century to move from bright coloured uniforms to earth tones for camouflage purposes. As for the exact shade, that is a good question which predates the Second World War. I honestly don't know.
Why were the assault artillery banned from using skulls?
According to Pruett and Edwards, there are reports - unconfirmed - that the panzer branch objected to sharing their insignia with the assault artillery. I can only guess (and Pruett and Edwards say as much), but I suppose their point was that the tanks were inheritors of cavalry traditions (specifically Hussar regiments), which included the skull. For what it is worth, the assault guns were already wearing artillery branch colour (red) so they dropped the skulls - though individual crews liked the skulls and retained them as long as they could. Pruett and Edwards cite Bryan Perret's Osprey book STURMARTILLERIE AND PANZERJAEGER for additional reading.
Ob's stürmt oder schneit...
Ob die Sonne uns lacht,
Der Tag glühend heiß,
Bestaubt sind die Gesichter
Doch froooh ist unser Sinn!
Jä Unser sinn
Next: Luftwaffe and Kriegsmarine uniforms pleaseeeeeeee
Uniforms by Hugo Boss.
Large guns by Krup.
Aero engines by BMW.
Pistols by Walther.
Trucks by Mercedes and Opel.
I wonder what happened to all these companies.........
What song did you use in the video? It has a pretty cool bass line.
All music is credited at the end.
Was there a difference between those and the Panzer uniforms of the Waffen-SS?
The AFV jackets used by the SS had rounded lapels and a vertical front closure. I'm not familiar with the entire history of them.
@@HandGrenadeDivision Thank you! At least it's something.
I like history do SS rank videos too please
Nice Job . ! Have to get it right to be correct . !
Very interested.
Hey man, I know you are geared towards WW2 and mostly the german part. Do you think you could cover some interwar before 1933 or some World War I stuff?
Honestly, I wouldn't do justice to it. I would love to know more about the German rank system in the First World War, for example, but I don't think I would be doing the topic any great service by just looking stuff up in a book and then cranking out a video on it. Far better for someone with a deep understanding and passion for the subject to take it on. Better for you, better for the community. My focus is mainly the 65th Infantry Division in particular, and the German Army of the Second World War in particular. If someone does cover the World War I era, count me in with yourself among the interested as I think it is a very misunderstood and under-researched area of history.
Could somebody help me with references to panzerjäger crews in North Africa? What pattern of uniform were officially given to these crews?
I've seen images of the tank crews wearing standard tropical uniform but with the addition of the panzer skulls placed on the lower lapels. The rest of the uniform was tropical standard, including the blue and copper collar patches. I *presume* that the anti-tank and assault gun crews wore the same tropical uniform. It's a great question though and I haven't researched any of the specific units that used that equipment. I wouldn't doubt that there were some interesting variations.
@@HandGrenadeDivision Yes, it's the different variations and field modifications that make this subject (of uniforms) so interesting although very confusing. I will look into the different units using the panzerjäger in North Africa and go from there but the DAK is truly a can of worms!
Thank you for your reply and for the great content you create.
German bureaucracy is to normal bureaucracy what nomal bureaucracy is to anarchy
The Allied forces were far too standardization and too focused on industrial quantity.
The Germans on the other hand mixed craftsmanship into industrial standards. Which is why they had an assortment of uniforms, weaponry, strategy and other (very creative) things.
If it was a heer tanker did they just use the normal army belt or did they have a special buckle?
As I understand it, the usual Army belt buckle (or double claw buckle for officers). They would have worn a sidearm (pistol) on the belt and I believe there was room inside the vehicle to stow water bottles, mess tins and other necessities.