WEHRMACHT OFFIZIERSMANTEL M36
The Wehrmacht Offiziersmantel M36 was the standard officer’s greatcoat introduced in 1936 as part of the German Army’s uniform modernization program, replacing earlier models with a more refined and practical design suited for both field and formal wear. Tailored from high-quality feldgrau gabardine wool for superior durability and weather resistance, it featured a distinctive dark bottle-green collar, double-breasted front with two rows of silvered buttons, French cuffs, side pockets, and an internal rayon lining for comfort. Officers’ versions were typically custom-made or privately purchased, often including rank-specific shoulder boards, a rear vent with adjustable strap, and a more tailored fit compared to enlisted Feldmantel variants. Widely used throughout the early years of World War II, the M36 mantel provided essential protection against cold and rain on multiple fronts before later wartime simplifications altered production standards, remaining an iconic symbol of Wehrmacht officer attire.
Oberstleutnant Franz Pöschl (1917-2011). During the Battle of Crete in May 1941, Oberleutnant Franz Pöschl, as commander of the 3rd Company in Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 100 of the 5. Gebirgs-Division, played a notable role in the intense German airborne and mountain troop assault on the strategically vital Mediterranean island. Following the initial paratrooper drops of Operation Merkur, Pöschl’s unit was flown in to reinforce the hard-pressed German forces amid fierce Allied resistance and rugged terrain. His company contributed to securing key objectives in the face of determined counterattacks by British, Commonwealth, and Greek troops. For his demonstrated combat leadership and bravery under fire during the bitter fighting that ultimately led to the island’s capture, Pöschl was awarded the Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse on 24 June 1941. This early wartime action marked the beginning of a distinguished career for the young mountain infantry officer, who would go on to serve with distinction on multiple fronts throughout World War II.
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PELZMANTEL (FUR MANTEL)
Oberstleutnant Wolf-Horst Hoppe (1909–1997) was a German Army officer
who became one of the Wehrmacht’s notable Panzerjäger commanders during
the Second World War and was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen
Kreuzes for his leadership of schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 519 on the
Eastern Front. After helping to form the unit from the Arbeitsstab Hoppe
in 1943, Major Hoppe led the battalion into combat in the Vitebsk
sector under Heeresgruppe Mitte, where its Nashorn tank destroyers
achieved remarkable success against Soviet armored formations. During
the fierce defensive battles around Vitebsk in late 1943 and early 1944,
schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 519 established a reputation as one of
the most effective heavy anti-tank formations in the German Army,
destroying large numbers of Soviet tanks while suffering comparatively
light losses. Contemporary German reports credited the battalion with
approximately 290 enemy armored vehicles destroyed during its first
months of combat operations around Vitebsk, a performance that
significantly contributed to stabilizing threatened sectors of the
front. As commander, Hoppe was responsible for the tactical deployment
of his long-range 8.8 cm armed Nashorn vehicles, whose crews repeatedly
engaged Soviet armor at distances that often prevented effective return
fire. In recognition of his outstanding leadership, organizational
skill, and the combat achievements of schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 519
during these critical defensive operations, Hoppe received the
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 July 1944. His award reflected
not a single isolated engagement but a sustained period of successful
command in which his battalion became one of the most highly regarded
Panzerjäger units on the Eastern Front.
Source :
Akira Takiguchi photo collection
"Brandenburger: Wartime Photographs of Wilhelm Walther" by Anthony Rogers
https://www.weitze.net/wassuchensie/Wehrmacht-Mantel.html#s=alle,
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