Original Item: Only One Available. In November 1934 the Germans introduced the black Panzer wrap tunic for the newly formed armored units and it was worn through-out the war with minor modifications in 1936 and 1942. Along with the new black Panzer wrap tunic the Germans also introduced the unique Panzer collar tabs which utilized the old Prussian "Danziger" style skull and crossbones. The skulls and crossbones were worn through-out the war with minor manufacturing variations.

Here we have a very nice service used right and left pair of German WWII Panzer EM/NCO Kragenspiegelen (Collar Tab), cut off from a Panzer uniform. These are the early pattern, featuring a black wool body with an internal buckram stiffener, and Goldgelb (Golden-Yellow) piping around the edges, the Waffenfarbe (corps color) for Panzer Aufklärungs (Armored Reconnaissance). In the middle of the tabs are great "Danziger" style Totenkopf (Death's Head) insignia, which looks to be made from zinc, probably with plated brass securing claws. We had considered that these might have been "Signals" tabs, but looking under the edge of the piping on the back shows that it is definitely gold yellow.

These would have been worn by an Aufklärer (spotter), who would go ahead of the armored units to report back targets and accuracy. Condition of both is very good, with overall wear consistent with service. There is still much of the original stitching used to hold them to the panzer wrap present.

A great "uniform cutoff" Panzer Spotter EM/NCO collar tab set, ready to add to your collection!

Use of the Totenkopf as a military emblem began under Frederick the Great, who formed a regiment of Hussar cavalry in the Prussian army commanded by Colonel von Ruesch, the Husaren-Regiment Nr. 5 (von Ruesch). It adopted a black uniform with a Totenkopf emblazoned on the front of its mirlitons and wore it on the field in the War of Austrian Succession and in the Seven Years' War. The Totenkopf remained a part of the uniform when the regiment was reformed into Leib-Husaren Regiments Nr.1 and Nr.2 in 1808. The skull continued to be used by the Prussian and Brunswick armed forces until 1918, and some of the stormtroopers that led the last German offensives on the Western Front in 1918 used skull badges. Luftstreitkräfte fighter pilots Georg von Hantelmann and Kurt Adolf Monnington are just two of a number of Central Powers military pilots who used the Totenkopf as their personal aircraft insignia.