Army Panzer Jacket (Panzerjäcke)

Please read here about the proper fit of the jacket.

The famous black Panzer uniform (Sonderbekleidung der Deutschen Panzertruppen) was introduced to the Army in 1934. Heinz Guderian, Inspector of Panzer Troops, had been thinking about what to do for a new uniform that would be unique to armored crewmen of his new Panzer arm when he went on a ski trip and saw a new style of short jacket for Alpine skiing that had a double breasted closure, but almost no visible buttons for modern, streamlined look. The jacket could be worn open with a turtle neck sweater or closed all  the way up. Guderian quickly adopted the jacket, along with the ski trousers that went with it, as his new Panzer uniform. In black wool, it was reminiscent of the Napoleanic-era Braunschweig Hussars with  their black jackets and silver death's head insignia. Black also had the added advantage of not showing grease and oil quite so badly.

The Lost Battalions Army Panzerjacke has all the details of the original. It is exactly reproduced in black wool from the original pattern and has the correctly angled front closure found on all originals. The collar, as well as the death's head collar tabs of the Panzerwaffe, are piped in your choice of rose pink or golden yellow. The jacket is lined in brown twill as were the originals. Two belt suspension tabs are provided to carry the support hooks for the waist belt. This is the premier reproduction Panzer jacket on the market today. Since it's made from the original pattern, it also fits exactly like the original, with a narrow back and small armholes that encourage the wearer to assume the correct military posture. Don't confuse this uniform with the horrible baggy Chinese made sad sacks offered elsewhere. We've actually seen our jackets on militaria show tables being offered as WWII originals. With keyhole buttonholes made on period wartime original Reece buttonhole machines, as used by the Germans, and the  characteristic three stitches per centimeter, even the sewing details of this Panzer jacket will pass the closest inspection.