Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Heer Panzer officer M38 overseas cap, or Schiffchen, constructed from black whipcord weave wool with officer bullion piping and rose pink Waffenfarbe soutache. The overseas cap, nicknamed in German military slang as Schiffchen, or literally "little ship" as it resembled an up-turned row-boat, was standard issue for all branches of the Heer. It is a well used service example retaining its original insignia, enameled ventilation grommets, and tan cotton canvas lining.

The cap is constructed from black wool as used by Panzer personnel and measures approximately 28.5cm in exterior length. Enameled steel ventilation grommets are fitted to both sides, and no maker or size marking is visible inside.

The front carries a finely machine embroidered officer eagle in silver bullion on a black backing above a machine embroidered tricolor cockade. The insignia stitching does not pass through the lining, indicating that both were applied during construction. Silver bullion piping is present along the front scallop and entire upper seam, consistent with officer issue.

A V-shaped Rosa, or rose pink, soutache surrounds the cockade. This was the Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) associated with Panzer (Armored) and Panzerjäger (Tank Destroyer) personnel. The lower construction stitching does not pass over the soutache, indicating that it was added after the main cap body was assembled. In some areas the soutache can appear reddish because the underlying core thread is red, but the outer wrapping is clearly rose pink.

Condition is very good for a heavily service worn cap. The black wool has faded in exposed areas, showing tan or whitish tones in the weave, while the protected fabric beneath the side flaps remains deep black. The bullion eagle shows some fraying toward the center, the cockade is heavily worn with the lower edge worn through, and the soutache also shows service wear. The black enamel on the vent grommets remains largely intact with minor chipping. Inside, there is tearing around the grommet openings, and the lowest row of stitching along the bottom has pulled loose and is detached around a substantial portion of the circumference.

With its black Panzer wool construction, officer bullion piping, rose pink soutache, original bullion eagle and cockade, and strong evidence of prolonged field wear, this is a particularly appealing Heer Panzer officer M38 overseas cap. The fading, insignia wear, interior tearing, and loose lower stitching are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a Heer Panzer officer uniform, M38 overseas cap, armored troops headgear, or advanced German WWII headgear collection.

The term Panzer Division (German: Panzerdivision) as commonly used in English language refers almost exclusively to the armored (tank) division in the army branch of the Wehrmacht and of NSDAP Germany during World War II. The panzer divisions were the key element of German success in the Blitzkrieg operations of the early years of the war. Later the Waffen-SS formed panzer divisions, and even the Luftwaffe fielded a panzer division, the Herman Goring Division.

The term Panzerdivision is still used in today's Heer of the Bundeswehr (for example 1. Panzerdivision). In German speaking countries the term is not immediately associated with the Wehrmacht as it is in English speaking nations, as the word simply means 'armored division' and has no additional connotation.

A panzer division was a combined arms formation, having both tanks (German Panzerkampfwagen, "armored fighting vehicle", usually shortened to "Panzer") and infantry as organic components, along with artillery, anti-aircraft, signals, etc. However, the proportions of the components of a panzer division changed over time.