Description
This is an incredibly rare early M36 Panzer Grenadier Kradschützen shoulder straps. Both boards are without a doubt original to one another, both still have the removable straps on the reverse. The tops show the embroidered gothic “K” with no regimental number underneath. There is lime green branch color used on these boards, indicating they are for a member of a Kradschützen Panzer Grenadier unit. These boards having no rank upgraded and contain the rank of Soldat, very hard to find! A set like this would be virtually impossible to upgrade as early Krad items are very hard to come by, let alone find on the open market.
The Wehrmacht developed Kradschützen as a rapid mobile assault and reconnaissance force from 1936 and were used extensively during the early stages of the Second World War as part of the German Blitzkrieg successes, and Operation Barbarossa. The development of Kampfgruppen, Panzer Grenadier regiments, and armored halftracks meant that large formations of lightly armed Kradschutzen motorcycle troops became obsolete with the soldiers being transferred to other services such as Panzer Grenadier regiments and Kampfgruppen.
