WWII German Army Panzer Reconnaissance Hauptmann Tunic

The four pocket officer tunic is tailored from a fine quality field gray ribbed wool blend material. The tunic has bullion collar tabs with copper brown litzen, this being the waffenfarbe color that was used early in the war by Army reconnaissance units, while the sew-in Hauptmann shoulder boards have the pink underlay of the panzer forces. The ends of the boards show wear through the underlay which exposes the interior base of the boards. The tunic has a fine bullion breast eagle, and the left breast has sets of loops for three badges as well as a short ribbon bar above the upper left pocket. The tunic interior retains the hanger for the officer dagger, with the lining showing multiple patches. The exterior of the tunic has some subtle spots and there is a small hole in the center of the back. The wear to the edges of the shoulder boards and the interior patches to the lining reflect the fact that this was clearly a field worn tunic, and it makes an impressive appearance, exhibiting great character. The officer’s wear of the early war reconnaissance collar tabs in conjunction with the pink underlay panzer boards is an extremely unusual combination reflecting the service of an officer in a relatively small panzer reconnaissance unit.