Gefreiter Panzeraufklärungstruppe Uniform - Federal Republic of Germany

The uniform displayed above is the Bundeswehr designated Grunduniform for the Heer. It bears the golden yellow waffenfarbe branch of service designation for the Panzeraufklärungstruppe or Armored Reconnaissance Corps.As with all Heer uniforms it consists of a dark grey stone colored service tunic and a pair of black trousers. All service dress uniforms are worn with a black belt with a ceremonial buckle (not shown) on the front bearing the federal eagle or Bundesadler.

The belt consisting of a Koppelschloss (buckle) und Hosengurtel (belt) is very similar in design and appearance to belts worn by soldiers of the German Wehrmacht throughout Second World War. The German logo and Eagle was retained, instead using the Imperial style Prussian heraldry eagle rather than the outlawed Nazi Eagle & swastika and instead of Gott Mit Uns (God's With Us) which was also associated with the previous regime it has been replaced with the motto of the Bundeswehr taken from the German National Anthem "Einigkeit, Recht, Freiheit", or "Unity, Justice, Freedom".

Again the black service trousers are worn with the service dress uniform.

The shoulder epaulettes of the service tunic are bordered with the yellow gold coloring known as waffenfarbe for the Panzeraufklärungstruppe or Armored Reconnaissance Corps. It bears no rank insignia so the soldier wearing this uniform would be designated the title of Schütze or Rifleman. The lack of rank in the enlisted corps generally denotes a limited time soldier or a soldier serving his national service commitment.

The Heer collar bars rest against the yellow gold backing of the Panzeraufklärungstruppe  waffenfarbe.

On the right side of the tunic is the Schützenschnur in Gold award. The award was first reinstated in its existing form in 196h. The presentation of the award is based on one of three grades reflecting the soldiers competency in marksmanship. The award is a matt aluminum colored design which is worn by both Heer & Luftwaffe personnel with the federal eagle over oak leaves.

The patch on the left shoulder of the service tunic is the patch insignia of the Heer 6 Panzergrenadierdivision or 6th Mechanized Infantry Division stationed in Neumünster in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The unit insignia depicts a white nettle leaf against a red background with a yellow shield and two blue heraldry lions. The white nettle leaf on the red background is the family crest of the Counts of Schaumberg that was adopted as the coat of arms for Schleswig-Holstein. The blue lions on a yellow shield associate the region of Schleswig-Holstein's ties to the German emperor and a Danish fief. The coat of arms belonged to Adolf of Schaumberg and his lion coat of arms replaced the coat of arms of Denmark on the crest of Schleswig-Holstein. The white and black braiding along the border of the patch signifies the unit status of being a division.

A white border signifies the first brigade, with the 16th and 17th brigades using a red border and the 18th Brigade of the Division utilizing a yellow border.

Soldiers assigned to the Heer's Panzeraufklärungstruppe would wear either a visor cap with yellow gold waffenfarbe piping or a black beret complete with the Panzeraufklärungstruppe  beret crest depicting a wheeled armored reconnaissance vehicle surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves against two crossed cavalry lances alluding to the reconnaissance troops ties to scout cavalry units.

The Panzeraufklärungstruppe of the modern Bundeswehr is deeply tied to tradition related to the mounted cavalry force. The Panzeraufklärungstruppe worked alongside the forces of the Panzertruppe serving as armored scouts advancing ahead of the main armored force to locate and monitor enemy positions before reporting back to advancing maneuver forces for engagements. The main weapon of the Panzeraufklärungstruppe was the eight wheeled Luchs armored scout car during the Cold War. The vehicle armed with a 20mm cannon for light reconnaissance and for heavier engagements the Panzeraufklärungstruppe employed the Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Fighting Vehicles of the Cold War Panzeraufklärungstruppe:

Spähpanzer Luchs

Type: Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle

Country of Origin: West Germany

Introduced into Service: 1975

Specifications:

Weight: 19.5 tonnes

Length: 7.74 m

Width: 2.98 m

Height: 2.84 m

Crew: 4

Main Armament: A single 20 mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 automatic cannon

Secondary Armament: A single 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun

Engine: DaimlerBenz OM 403A 10-cylinder 4-stroke, turbocharged. 300 HP with petrol, 390 HP with diesel

Suspension: Hydraulic all (8) wheel drive

Operational Range: 730 km

Speed: 90 km/h on roads, 10 km/h swimming in water

Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Type: Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Country of Origin: West Germany
Introduced into Service: May 1971

Specifications:

Weight: 28.5 t (31.4 short tons)
Length: 6.79 m (22 ft 3 in)
Width: 3.24 m (10 ft 8 in)
Height: 2.98 m (9 ft 9 in)
Crew: 3 (Commander, Gunner & Driver) Plus seating for six fully equipped combat soldiers in the rear hull
Armor: Welded steel, protection up to 20 mm APDS DM43 from 0 m and 25 mm APDS from 200 m (220 yd)
Main Armament: 20 mm Rheinmetall MK 20 Rh 202 automatic cannon & MILAN anti tank guided missile launcher
Secondary Armament: 7.62 mm MG3 machine gun
Engine: MTU MB 833 Ea-500 diesel engine 600 hp (441 kW)
Power/Weight: 21.1 hp/tonne
Transmission: RENK HSWL 194
Suspension: Torsion bar
Ground Clearance: 0.45 m (18 in)
Fuel Capacity: 652 L (143 imp gal)
Operational Range: 520 km
Speed: 75 km/h (47 mph)

Obergefreiter Sanitätsdiensttruppe Uniform - Federal Republic of Germany

The uniform depicted here is the service dress uniform of an Obergefreiter or Private First Class in the West German Army's Sanitätsdiensttruppe of Medical Service Corps. The uniform is the gray color of the West German Army Heer with the blue color waffenfarbe piping of the Medical Corps. The collar insignia maintains the blue backing behind Heer enlisted collar bars, and the shoulder epaulettes of the uniform have the blue identifying color along the borders.

The black dress trousers worn with the Heer service dress uniform is standard of all Army branch service uniforms.

The shoulder epaulettes are piped with the blue color of the Heer Sanitätsdiensttruppe along with the metal insignia of an Obergefreiter. The Obergefreiter rank consists of two parallel bars and is the equivalent of the grade of E-3 in the United States military. Upon progression from the initial rank of Gefreiter, soldiers in the Heer then progress to become an Obergefreiter following satisfactory performance in the grade of Gefreiter.

The patch on the left shoulder of the service tunic is the patch insignia of the Heer 6 Panzergrenadierdivision or 6th Mechanized Infantry Division stationed in Neumünster in the state of Schleswig-Holstein. The unit insignia depicts a white nettle leaf against a red background with a yellow shield and two blue heraldry lions. The white nettle leaf on the red background is the family crest of the Counts of Schaumberg that was adopted as the coat of arms for Schleswig-Holstein. The blue lions on a yellow shield associate the region of Schleswig-Holstein's ties to the German emperor and a Danish fief. The coat of arms belonged to Adolf of Schaumberg and his lion coat of arms replaced the coat of arms of Denmark on the crest of Schleswig-Holstein. The white and black braiding along the border of the patch signifies the unit status of being a division.

A white border signifies the first brigade, with the 16th and 17th brigades using a red border and the 18th Brigade of the Division utilizing a yellow border.

The Sanitätsdiensttruppe initially wore a standard visor cap with blue piping along the peak of the cap designating their branch of service. As shown here with the West German national roundel insignia on the peak of the cap and the Heer military service insignia of two cross swords surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves.

The peaked cap was later replaced by a blue beret designated for wear only by Medical units. The beret is accompanied by a metal crest insignia specific to medical forces.

The Sanitätsdiensttruppe beret badge insignia consists of the staff of Aesculapius, the long standing Greek symbol of a serpent and staff associated with medicine the world over in a wreath of oak leaves and the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Hauptgefreiter Heeresfliegertruppe Uniform - Federal Republic of Germany

The uniform displayed here is the Grundform or Basic Uniform of a Hauptgefreiter or Lance Corporal in the West German Army’s Aviation Corps, the Heeresfliegertruppe. The uniform jacket is the standard grey color of Heer uniforms with the silver-gray colored piping of the shoulder insignia and collar bars known as kragenspielen denoting the wearer's affiliation to the Aviation branch of service. Initially West German Army tunics were over a darker gray color but were gradually lightened after the reforms of the Bundeswehr in the 1960s-1970s.

When initially enlisting into the Heeresfliegertruppe, the enlistee will be known by the title of Flieger or 'Flyer' this would be equivalent to the standard Heer enlistee title of Schütze or 'Rifleman'. They then progress along the standard Bundeswehr rank system becoming a Gefreiter and so forth depending on the desired career path of the enlisted soldier.

The pants worn with the service uniform are the standard black trousers issued to and worn by all West German Army personnel.

The shoulder epaulettes carry the grey Heeresflieger branch piping and the metal insignia of a Bundeswehr Hauptgefreiter.

The patch on the sleeve shows the unit affiliation to the West German Heer's I Corps commonly known during the Cold War by its NATO designation I German Corps. In the event of a war with the Soviet Union and the German Democratic Republic, I German Corps would the forces of the United Kingdom (I British Corps), the Netherlands (I Netherlands Corps) and Belgium (I Belgium Corps) to form NATOs Northern Army Group to combat advancing Warsaw Pact armored formations across the North German Plain. The patch depicts the German federal eagle against a gold background with the Corps numeral designation.

Typically soldiers assigned to the Corps troops and Corps staff. The black and gold braided edge of the patch was significant of the status of being a Corps level unit. 

The cuff bands bear the insignia of the Army Aviation Corps depicting flying wings symbolizing the task of the aviation branch. The insignia is essentially the same wing insignia worn by Luftwaffe personnel only differentiating by being against a black background rather than a dark blue standard of the Air Force. Soldiers of the Heeresfliegertruppe were authorized the cuff title due to the relatively small size of the German Army Aviation Corps.

Shown here is the maroon beret worn by specialized troops of the Heer. Typically units wearing maroon berets in the German Army are those with airborne or special operations affiliations. 

The Heersfliegertruppe beret crest depicts a stylized wing design identical to the wing worn on the cuff band of the sleeve on the service tunic with a vertical sword over the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves. 

Hauptgefreiter Panzergrenadiertruppe Uniform - Federal Republic of Germany

The uniform here is of a Hauptgefreiter or Lance Corporal of the Panzergrenadiertruppe assigned to the Panzerlehrbrigade 9. All Bundeswehr soldiers enter the 12 week basic training program with the title of Schütze 'Rifleman' or another title of significance in relation to their desired branch of service and upon graduation are promoted to the rank of Gefreiter 'Private', after three months of satisfactory federal service a Gefreiter is then promoted to the rank of Obergefreiter or Private First Class and after nine months of satisfactory federal service the Obergefreiter is then promoted to the rank of Hauptgefreiter.

The uniform is designated with the green waffenfarbe color piping of the Infanterietruppe, the German Infantry Corps which is divided into two groups: Jägertruppe/Panzergrenadiertruppe effectively 'Light Infantry Corps/Mechanized Infantry Corps'. Being an enlisted soldier, note the metal Hauptgefreiter insignia on the shoulderboards. The metal insignia are typically mounted with five to six prongs pushed through the material of the uniform epaulette and then secured on the underside of the uniform shoulderboard.

On the left shoulder is the shoulder flash patch of the Panzerlehrbrigade 9. The patch displays two crossed swords with a white "L" for Lehrbrigade (Demonstration Brigade) against a red background with an accompanying pink border. It resembles the badge of the Armored Troops School. School units technically have an 'S' for School on their patches and the 'L' designates the unit as a Lehrtruppenteil or 'Training Force' of the Panzertruppenschule or Armored Corps School. The pink border is representative of the branch of service for the Armored Troops. Each Heer branch school has patches of similar constitution using the colors of their branch of service.

Also note the cuffbands on the sleeves bearing the unit name Panzerlehrbrigade 9 embroidered in white against a black background. The cuff title Panzerlehrbrigade was authorized for the Brigade by the German President on 24 September 1987. This is a fundamental coat of arms for the unit with influences from the Prussian era in the colors of black and white. The colors black and white were the colors of the standards and the lances of the Prussian-German cavalry forces dating back to the Napoleonic Wars. These colors were retained in modern German heraldry as a symbol of the armored corps which is regarded as the successor branch to heavy cavalry.

Here is the green beret of the Infantry Corps. The moss green beret is utilized by the Infanterietruppen, Army contingents of the Wachbataillon and Panzerjäger or Anti-Armor forces. 

The beret badge depicts an oak wreath with crossed Mauser Karabiner 98k rifles, the flag of the Federal Republic of Germany and a tank. This is the badge of the Panzergrenadiertruppe. 

When the Bundeswehr was established in 1955, it's troops were divided amongst three categories of force: Eingreifkräfte or 'Intervention forces' tasked with crisis intervention and contribution to intervention forces such as NATO Response contingents, Stabilisierungskräfte 'Stabilization forces' which provide forces for multinational, joint military operations of low to medium intensity. These differentiate from intervention forces in that they are intended for peacekeeping operations of longer duration. The last class being Unterstützungskräften 'Supply forces' tasked with providing logistic and manpower support for the operations of the armed forces.

The German Army maintains several specialized units known for conducting exercises known in Germany as Informationslehrübung Gefechts und Luftfahrzeuge des Deutschen Heeres or German Army Combat Vehicle and Aircraft Demonstration Exercises in English; which showcased the capabilities of the Army's fighting vehicles and aircraft and how they operate in a combined effort jointly in various scenarios. One such unit the pride of the Heer is the Panzerlehrbrigade 9 (9th Armored Demonstration Brigade), which during the Cold War was stationed in the city of Munster, Lower Saxony in West Germany. The unit was established on 1 June 1958 with with the new Army structure of four combat companies, a headquarters and a supply company.

The unit was reorganized further in 1959 under the reorganizations of Army Structure II which added the brigade headquarters company and a the Armored Reconnaissance Training Battalion. In peacetime, the unit trains both armored forces and mechanized infantry troops and in wartime it would be mobilized into a rapid reaction force.

The Panzerlehrbrigade 9 operated a force of Leopard main battle tanks, Marder infantry fighting vehicles and M109 Paladin self propelled howitzers for leading combined arms operations under a multinational or joint forces environment under the direction of a divisional command, in mobile and or networked operations.

Kompanienfeldwebel Panzertruppen Uniform - Federal Republic of Germany

The uniform shown here is of a Hauptfeldwebel or Master Sergeant of the Panzertruppen or Armored Corps. The Senior Non-Commissioned Officer was also holding the appointment of Kompanienfeldwebel or Company Sergeant which would be known in the United States Army as a Company First Sergeant. Typical of post 1970 issued Heer tunics, the fabric is of a lighter gray colored material than earlier model Army uniforms.

It retains the black trousers worn by Army personnel.

This uniform bears the waffenfarbe colored piping of the Armored Corps. The shoulderboards display the rank of Hauptfeldwebel or Master Sergeant in officer style bullion designed insignia typical of Senior Non Commissioned Officers.

The right side of the uniform displays the gold Kompaniefeldwebel-Schnur or Company Sergeant's Cord, a gold braided decorative cord representing the wearer's position as the Company First Sergeant. Also displayed are the embroidered qualification badges known as  Tätigkeitsabzeichen Streitkräfte (Military Forces Qualification Badges) the first one being the Kompaniefeldwebel Dienststellung (Company Sergeant Service Position) consisting of the Heer Iron Cross insignia and the second one underneath being the Rohrwaffenpersonal (Tubed Weapons Personnel Specialist) displaying a crossed anti-armor weapon and rifle over a colonial style burning grenade.

On the pocket is the brüstenhanger (breast hanger) pocket badge noting the current duty assignment being the Panzerbataillon 304, Panzerbrigade 8 (304th Armored Battalion, 8th Armored Brigade) assigned to Munster in Lower Saxony, northern West Germany. The unit was deactivated shortly after the end of the Cold War in 1993.

The left shoulder patch of two horses crossed against a red background is the unit patch of the Panzerbrigade 8.

The soldier's awards include, the Ehrenkreuz der Bundeswehr in Silber (Silver Cross of Honor), Einsatzmedaille der Bundeswehr (Armed Forces Service Medal), Deutsches Sportabzeichen in Gold (German Sports Badge in Gold), the Deutsches Rettungsschwimmabzeichen in Silber (German Rescue Swimming Badge in Silver) and NATO Medal with Former Yugoslavia clasp.

The soldier was also presented the Abzeichen für Leistungen im Truppendienst in Gold (Armed Forces Badge for Military Proficiency in Gold) a round on its center and displays the German eagle surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves.as worn on the left breast pocket of the tunic.

 Notice the "Alt Gold" piping around the collar, this piping was applied to all Senior NCO's tunics from Feldwebel to Oberstabsfeldwebel adorning the shoulder boards in conjunction with the standard pink piping of the Panzertruppen.

The Kompanienfeldwebel being a Senior NCO position of appointment rather than a rank grade has many nicknames, including Der Spieß or "The Spear" which is reminiscent of First Sergeant nicknames in the United States Army such as 'Top' in most units or 'Smoke' in Artillery units. Another common nickname for the Kompanienfeldwebel is Mutter der Kompanie or "Company Mother" amongst other names due to their position as leaders and for their carrying out of administrative duties.

After the Bundeswehr began its transition from the wear of the peaked caps to the berets in the late 1970s, the Armored Corps were designated to wear a black beret with the insignia of the Armored Troops which depicts a stylized battle tank in a wreath of oak leaves, which get its origins from Panzerkampfabzeichen or Armored Warfare Badge of the former German Wehrmacht.

The Panzertruppe is the armored branch of the West German Heer. As the armored corps of the Army it is their duty to close with the enemy and engage the enemy armored formations across open terrain. Initially upon establishment of the Bundeswehr the Army decided to maintain six armored divisions consisting of 16 armored brigades each with two tank battalions and an armored infantry company. It also would maintain one Mountain Division with four tank battalions and two tank destroyer companies. Two independent armored regiments and 51 tank battalions.

Each company initially had three platoons of five tanks plus the armor of the company commander and the transfer vehicles. After the revisions known as Army Structure II the number of tanks in each was reduced. Battalion staff maintained three other vehicles at the headquarters company for use by the commander and executive officer. A Battalion was essentially a force of 54 battle tanks. The home of the Armored Troops was located in Munster, West Rhine-Westphalia and the Panzertruppe was initially equipped with American made M47 and M48 Patton main battle tanks. These were replaced in 1965 by the Leopard I main battle tank, the first post war tank of European design introduced into German military service since the Second World War. The Bundeswehr would employ some 2,800 armored vehicles fighting vehicles.

With lessons learned during the Second World War, and the emphasis on armored warfare against the numerically superior Warsaw Pact armored formations, the Heer order some 4,600 main battle tanks. By the 1980s, the Heer reorganized the armored formation structure to a combined arms force of armor and armored infantry in composition. The Heer went through an upgrade and improvement campaign for its armored forces in the mid 1980s, with the procurement of the more advanced Leopard II main battle tank to replace the earlier Leopard I. Most Leopard I's had been replaced by 1987.

Tanks of the Cold War Heer Panzertruppen:

Leopard I

Type: Main battle tank

Country of Origin: West Germany

Introduced into Service: September 1965

Specifications:

Weight: 42.2 tonnes (increased on later models from original 40.0 tonnes)

Length:     9.54/8.29 m (gun forward/rearward)

Width:     3.37 m

Height:     2.39/2.70 m (turret roof/absolute)

Crew: 4 (Commander, Driver, Gunner, Radio Operator/Loader)

Armor:     Steel 19-21.7mm and 10-70mm RHA

Main Armament: 1 x 105mm Royal Ordnance L7A3 L/52 rifled gun (13 rounds carried in the turret with another 42 rounds kept in the tank hull)

Secondary Armament:     2 x 7.62 mm MG 3 or FN MAG machine guns (co-axial and commander's hatch) (5500 rounds)

Engine: MTU MB 838 CaM 500, 10-cylinder, 37.4 litres, multi-fuel engine 830 PS (819 hp, 610 kW) at 2200 RPM

Power/Weight: 19.6 PS/tonne

Suspension: Torsion-bar

Operational Range: 600 km (on road), 450 km (cross-country)

Speed:     65 km/h

Leopard II

Type: Main battle tank

Country of Origin: West Germany

Introduced into Service: October 1979

Specifications:

Weight: 62.3 tonnes (61.3 long tons; 68.7 short tons)

Length: 9.97 m (393 in) (gun forward)

Width: 3.75 m (148 in)

Height: 3.0 m (120 in)

Crew: 4

Armor: 3rd generation composite; including high-hardness steel, tungsten and plastic filler with ceramic component.

Main Armament: 1 x 120 mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun (42 rounds)

Secondary Armament: 2 x 7.62 mm MG3 Machine Guns (4,750 rounds)

Engine: MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V-12 Twin-turbo diesel engine 1,500 PS (1,479 hp, 1,103 kW) at 2,600 rpm

Power/Weight: 24.1 PS/t (17.7 kW/t)

Transmission: Renk HSWL 354

Suspension: Torsion-bar suspension

Fuel capacity: 1,200 liters (317 gallons)

Operational Range: 550 km (340 mi) (internal fuel)

Speed: 72 km/h (45 mph)