GERMAN PADDED TANK BERET
Rare ca. 1938 German panzer tanker’s beret with underlying soft helmet. The black wool beret has a short tassel at the top, with insignia consisting of the national eagle and swastika with the red, white and black cockade surrounded by the large laurel wreath indicative of the early panzer berets. These oversized berets were fitted with hard felt sided and top and lined with oilcloth with grommets for ventilation. It is also fitted with a 2 1/2" brown leather sweatband stamped with size 56. The upper body of the beret is in excellent condition with no damage, the exposed felt cover for the padding has moderate moth damage barely visible when displayed and easily repaired. This style beret was soon phased out as it became clumsy and cumbersome in practical use. With a small candid photo of three tankers wearing such a beret.