In 1944 did the German tankers still were the berets that they wore in 1939
no – they were mostly phased out by 1941.
Why, actually?
The “beret” was actually a small helmet fitted with a large black floppy cover.
Easier and less costly to produce a Feldmutze than a beret. I have heard that the panzertruppen didn’t care for it anyway.
SST
My sources suggest that Panzertruppe stopped being issued with black berets in the winter of 1939 - 40. Maybe because the tank regiments of the British army, with whom the Panzertruppe were shortly to engage, also wore black berets, and they wanted to avoid the risk of blue-on-blue.
Cheers,
Chris.
I don’t see why that would be a huge issue since… Well, They would all be inside their respective tanks.
SST
Im sure the fact that they looked rediculous had nothing to do with the decision either [:-^]
…Guy
Dunno so much - all things are relative:
thing is, when you’re a Field Marshal, there’s nobody above you to tell you when you look a prat.
Cheers,
Chris.
Thanks for posting that photo, Chris Hall- I think I just cracked a rib from laughing too hard.
Anyhow, who is that happy chap?
We aim to please!
He’s Generalfeldmarschall August Freiherr von Mackensen, a German WW1 general. Although he retired in 1920, he remained active in German conservative, monarchist, and military circles, and was an active supporter of Hitler after he became Reichskanzler in 1934. Mackensen was especially proud of his Life Hussars dress uniform, and appeared in it whenever possibe:
Cheers,
Chris.