Uniforms and Equipment of the GD Panzer Füsilier
This page will not provide an item by item description of every piece of kit that the German soldier was, or could be, issued. The aim of this page is to show what the Panzer Füsilier would have worn, carried and fought with during the 1944-45 period.
We will show this by means of photographs and brief text descriptions. There are many excellent publications detailing these items and we heartily recommend those interested in investigating this topic further to either purchase these or try the library. Failing this we intend to produce as small pamphlet detailing the wear and use of field uniforms and equipment that will be available for a small sum at our public displays.
The pictures used to illustrate items on this page may show modern top quality reproduction items alongside original items. Where this is the case the item(s) will be indicated.
Uniforms
The Panzer Füsilier of 1944-45 would typically be dressed in one of two uniform styles. The first is the standard Heer M43 Tunic with M42 or M43 trousers. The second would be the Assault Gunners (SturmArtillerie) uniform. This uniform was issued to GD's SPW mounted battalions in 1944.
The M43 Uniform
The M43 tunic was a rationalisation of the M36 design. It had a plain collar, flat unpleated, unpointed chest pockets and unpointed bellows skirt pockets. The wool content had decreased steadily over the war years, and as a result the M43 was more cellulose (material derived from plants) than wool. The lining was made from rayon (artificial silk). As a result of this degradation in fabric quality the tunic now had to be fastened with 6 buttons. In addition to displaying the litzen, the collar also displayed the dull grey NCO "tresse" worn by the ranks of Unteroffizier to Hauptfeldwebel. The national emblem was sewn above the right breast pocket. The divisional cuff tilte was sewn 19cm above the cuff on the right sleeve.
(For more info on GD insignia see the insignia page)
The field-grey shoulder straps were piped in white, and the shoulder strap was embroidered with the famous entwined GD monogram. Senior NCO's and officers wore metal versions of this emblem in grey and gilt metal respectively. NCO's shoulder straps were also edged with the "tresse" mentioned ealier.
The Sturmmartillerie Uniform
The armoured battalions of the Grossdeutschland infantry regiments ( 1Battalion Panzer Grenadier Battalion GD and 1 Battalion Panzer Füsillier Regiment GD ) were issued the Sturmartillerie uniform in 1944 as they were transported in armoured vehicles, though not fully tracked. The standard GD insignia were worn on this uniform, the differences were on the collar litzen. The prescribed manner of wear was to apply the standard lizen to a lozenge shaped patch of fied grey wool, and then apply this to the collar, the whole arrangement being piped in white, the infantry waffenfabre ( arm of service colour ). Officers were to wear their normal collar insignia attached directly to the collar.
The Sturmartillerie uniform was cut exactly the same as the black panzer uniform but in a field grey cloth. The jacket was of a blouson style. Cut at the waist, the jacket was of a wrap-over style with a row of buttons (either pressed paper, glass, wood or bone) arranged vertically on the right hand side. The collar was large and qorn opened out but could be fastened at the neck with a hook and eye. The trousers were very tapered at the ankles giving the fashionable bloused effect over the top of the boot. There was an integral belt and the front pockets had pocket flaps.
The standard white piped shoulder boards as described above were worn with this uniform. Unlike on the M43 uniforms SNCO's did not wear the "tresse" around the collar. The national emblem was again stitched to the right breast.
Shirts, socks and underwear
Under the tunic the Panzer Füsilier would wear a shirt of either a grey jersey material, or a green or grey cotton. The grey jersey shirt is seen with and without pockets. The cotton shirts have pleated pockets.
He would have grey woollen socks or the German copy of the Russian footwraps. The Ostf Front veteran preferred the footwraps.
Footwear
The traditional "jackboot" so beloved of Hollywood was an increasingly rare beast in 1944/45. The marching boot had already been reduced in height, thereby saving precious leather. The German Army, the Heer, had trailed the ankle boot in 1935 and re-introduced it in 1942. The ankle boot varied from manufacturer to manufacturer. Some were all eye holes, others eyeholes and hooks, some were rough side out on the upper, others were smooth side out all over. In our period of interest ankle boots were supplied in their natural colour, brown. It was up to the individual soldier to dye them black.
If the ankle boots were being worn with the M42/M43 trousers, then the soldier would probably tuck the ends of the trousers into the standard issue gaiters. These were made of heavy canvas and had two buckles and straps that fastened them around the ankles. The gaiters provided some ankle support and also stopped the ingress of stones, twigs etc into the boots.
If the Panzer Füsilier was wearing was the Sturmartillerie uniform then the trousers were probably tucked straight into the boots or into rolled over socks.
Headwear
For the Panzer Füsilier in 1944-45 there were only really 2 choices of headgear, the M42 Stahlhelm ( steel helmet ) or the M43 Einheitsfeldmutze ( field cap ).
The M42 was a version of the M35 simplified for quicker production. There were a number of differences between the 2 versions these included the rim of the M42 being left uncrimped and the ventilation holes that were previously seperate pieces being cast into the helmet shell itself.
The M43 cap was the standardised field head gear. It replaced the M38,M40 and M42 field caps. It was made from field grey wool and featured a long peak. The national insignia consisting of an eagle above a cockade was stiched on to the front of the cap. Officers caps had silver piping to the crown seam, and sometimes this was also placed onto the scallop of the turn up.
In addition the extreme cold of the Russian winter led to a profusion of unofficial fur , fur trimmed or lined and wool hats.
Field Equipment
The topic of German field equipment is huge and this page cannot detail every piece of kit, both personal and issue that a front-line soldier would carry. Here we will illustrate the typical load of a Panzer Füsilier in the front-line, the equipment varied according to the role of the individual in the Gruppe ( section/squad ), to do this we will use pictures of a Gruppenfuhrer (squad leader), MG42 team and a Panzer Füsilier.