Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Waffen-SS Panzer cavalry / reconnaissance SS-Scharführer NCO shoulder board of the button-attached pattern, constructed from black wool with a gray canvas reinforcement strap, gold yellow branch piping, and subdued gray NCO Tresse. The black wool construction is associated with Panzer uniform wear, while the gold yellow Waffenfarbe identifies cavalry and armored reconnaissance personnel, as well as regular reconnaissance personnel from 1942 onwards.

The shoulder board is made from black wool fabric with a gray canvas strap sewn to the underside and running beneath both button holes to reinforce the attachment points. Around the outer edge is Goldgelb, or golden yellow, the branch color associated with Kavallerie (cavalry) and Gepanzerte Aufklärung (armored reconnaissance) throughout the war in the Waffen-SS, as well as Aufklärung, or reconnaissance, from 1942 onwards.

A row of subdued gray NCO Tresse runs around the entire perimeter, indicating the rank of SS-Scharführer. The subdued finish was intended to reduce the reflective appearance of the brighter silver type used on dressier insignia.

Panzer formations included reconnaissance, artillery, signals, engineer, and other supporting elements in addition to tank troops. Depending on assignment and uniform issue, personnel in these supporting branches could wear black Panzer uniform components while retaining their own branch color identification.

This button-attached style with black wool construction was well suited to black Panzer uniforms, including the wrap style service uniform. The present example appears to have seen only limited wear and shows no evidence of prolonged installation on a uniform.

Condition is very good overall. There is light age toning and minor fraying around portions of the edge, but no major tears, holes, or structural damage. The black wool remains strong, the gold yellow piping is intact, the subdued NCO Tresse is well preserved, and the gray canvas reinforcement strap remains complete.

With its black Panzer wool construction, gold yellow cavalry / reconnaissance piping, subdued gray NCO Tresse, button-attached configuration, and surviving gray canvas reinforcement strap, this is a strong example of a German WWII Waffen-SS Panzer cavalry SS-Scharführer shoulder board. The light age toning and minor edge fraying are fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Waffen-SS Panzer, cavalry, reconnaissance, SS-Scharführer, black Panzer uniform, or advanced German shoulder board collection.