Waffen-SS assault gun uniforms

by Willi Schumacher

Waffen-SS Assault Gun Wrapper

An SS-Unterscharführer of Nachrichten Assault Gunner from 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Adolf Hitler"
An SS-Unterscharführer of Nachrichten Assault Gunner from 1. SS-Panzer-Division "Adolf Hitler"
Great photo showing men of SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung "Das Reich" in assault gunner uniforms wearing various types of belts & buckles and headgear. From left to right: Hermann Bolte (German Cross in Gold), Friedrich-Wilhelm Graun (German Cross in Gold), Ernst August Krag (Knight's Cross with Oakleaves), Wolfgang Otto (German Cross in Gold) and Hartmut Braun. Bolte and Otto are wearing single Tank Destruction Badges on their right arms. Krag is wearing an officers overseas cap with red soutache and Otto is wearing a two-button model M1943 field cap. The other officers are wearing their officer service caps
Great photo showing men of SS-Sturmgeschütz-Abteilung "Das Reich" in assault gunner uniforms wearing various types of belts & buckles and headgear. From left to right: Hermann Bolte (German Cross in Gold), Friedrich-Wilhelm Graun (German Cross in Gold), Ernst August Krag (Knight's Cross with Oakleaves), Wolfgang Otto (German Cross in Gold) and Hartmut Braun. Bolte and Otto are wearing single Tank Destruction Badges on their right arms. Krag is wearing an officers overseas cap with red soutache and Otto is wearing a two-button model M1943 field cap. The other officers are wearing their officer service caps

The assault gun wrapper was identical in style to that of the panzer wrapper with exception of color. They were manufactured from stocks of gray-green wool. The Waffen-SS used a uniform called the drill uniform, which manifested itself in the same style as that of the Waffen-SS assault gun wrapper. These lightweight uniforms were manufactured with herring-bone twill (HBT) material and were worn during the hot summer months and also during training exercises. Some may have had shoulder rank insignia and the sleeve eagle insignia but it is unlikely that much more was added.

SS-Unterscharführer of Artillerie Assault Gun Wrap from Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"
SS-Unterscharführer of Artillerie Assault Gun Wrap from Sturmartillerie-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"
SS-Oberscharführer of Panzerjäger Assault Gun Wrap from SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". This tunic has Army panzer shoulder straps with dark-green tops that are sewn into the shoulder seams. The runic collar tab is officer-quality silver bullion without piping and the cuffband is aluminum flat wire with silver-gray silk thread borders
SS-Oberscharführer of Panzerjäger Assault Gun Wrap from SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich". This tunic has Army panzer shoulder straps with dark-green tops that are sewn into the shoulder seams. The runic collar tab is officer-quality silver bullion without piping and the cuffband is aluminum flat wire with silver-gray silk thread borders
SS-Hauptsturmführer of Aufklärungs Assault Gun Wrap from SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"
SS-Hauptsturmführer of Aufklärungs Assault Gun Wrap from SS-Aufklärungs-Abteilung 2, 2. SS-Panzer-Division "Das Reich"
Ritterkreuzträger SS-Unterscharführer Gerhard Fischer, Zugführer of 3.Kompanie/SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" wearing the crusher cap with his assault gun uniform
Ritterkreuzträger SS-Unterscharführer Gerhard Fischer, Zugführer of 3.Kompanie/SS-Panzerjäger-Abteilung 5, 5. SS-Panzer-Division "Wiking" wearing the crusher cap with his assault gun uniform

Waffen-SS Assault Gun Trousers

The assault gun trousers were identical in style to that of the panzer trousers with exception of color. These trousers were manufactured with stocks of gray-green wool with the exception of the herring-bone twill (HBT) lightweight trousers used by the assault gun crews during the hot summer months and during training exercises. These lightweight trousers were styled the same way as the gray-green wool trousers, like the M1942 Kielhose with two-buttoned forward folding front pocket flaps.

Waffen-SS Assault Gun Trousers were designed after their Army counterparts but with the addition of a button on the forward facing front pocket flaps – having two buttons – one on each side versus a single button in the center
Waffen-SS Assault Gun Trousers were designed after their Army counterparts but with the addition of a button on the forward facing front pocket flaps – having two buttons – one on each side versus a single button in the center

Waffen-SS Assault Gun Headgear

The assault gunners wore the same headgear as the other members of the Waffen-SS, that is the overseas and M1943 field caps in gray-green wool. The rare exception may be the wearing of soutache on the overseas caps, in most cases red for artillery or pink for Panzerjäger.

All contents written by Christian Ankerstjerne unless stated otherwise