Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654

German veteran of the Russian front (combat since 1941), with the rank of Lieutenant:

tank commander belonging to Schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 654, an armored unit equipped with 45-ton “Jagdpanther” Sd.Kfz.173 tank fighters – Alsace, November 1944.

Operation in the Hardt Forest, Jagdpanther of Hauptmann Lüders – source the combat History of SPA 654 de karlheinz Münch.

He wears an all-black cloth outfit, practical for these men who have to get in, move around inside and get out of the panzer’s highly compartmentalized space, sometimes very quickly when the situation calls for it.

An armored vehicle of this type is inevitably oily, dirty and more or less dusty, which easily explains the choice of black for this outfit.

The double-breasted jacket (Feldjack) features shoulder tabs edged in pink (the weapon color of the German Panzertruppen) and collar tabs, also in the weapon’s colors, with the famous skull and crossbones (the skull and crossbones are directly inspired by Frederick the Great’s Husaren-Regiment Nr.5 “von Ruesch”, dating from the mid-18th century).

Decoration ribbons and other awards are pinned to the left side of the jacket:

Verwundetenabzeichen “silver” (wounded badge for having been wounded 3 or 4 times in combat or seriously injured).

Bandspange EK2 und KVK(Kriegsverdienstkreuz) mit schwerter.

Iron Cross 1st Class (EKI)

Panzerkampfabzeichen “argent” (armored combat badge).

The pants (Feldhose) are of the same texture as the jacket, with drawstrings at the bottom of the legs.

The cap worn by this officer is decorated all around the flap with a small silver braid.

A model Walther P38 pistol in a leather holster is worn on the belt with a buckle.

Radio headphones and throat microphone are part of the on-board equipment.