In researching my latest builds (an American and Russian tanker), I came to realize that the Germans were the only armored crews in WW2 not to regularly wear
padded headgear. Granted, there was the pre-war beret with the padded skullcap, but those were rarely seen after 1940, especially since an order dated January
15th, 1941 officially abolished the use of the beret. All of the other major powers, including the Russians, Americans, Italians, French, British, and even
Japanese all provided padded headgear to their AFV crew members. The Germans, however, are always seen in sidecaps, peaked caps, or field caps once the beret
was replaced in 1941. I imagine it led to a correspondingly higher rate of bruises, abrasions, and concussions among German crew members bouncing around in
the cramped, metal interiors of the panzers.
Even the post-war German Bundeswehr again issued a padded beret to their tankers.
So does anyone know why only the Wehrmacht, out of all the combatants, chose to do away with padded headgear for their tankers?
(Other than, of course, the obvious answer that it wasn't fashionable enough for the Germans. What's the old joke? The German soldiers dress like they're going to a parade, the British soldiers dress like they're going to work, and the American GIs dress like they're going to bed, or something like that?)
Even the post-war German Bundeswehr again issued a padded beret to their tankers.
So does anyone know why only the Wehrmacht, out of all the combatants, chose to do away with padded headgear for their tankers?
(Other than, of course, the obvious answer that it wasn't fashionable enough for the Germans. What's the old joke? The German soldiers dress like they're going to a parade, the British soldiers dress like they're going to work, and the American GIs dress like they're going to bed, or something like that?)
