Panzerwaffe

Waffe: [combat] "arm") refers to a command within the Heer of the German Wehrmacht, responsible for the affairs of panzer (tank) and motorized forces shortly before and during the Second World War.

It was originally known as Schnelltruppen ("Fast Troops"); a motorized command established in the Reichswehr following the First World War, redesignated as Panzerwaffe in 1936 by Generalleutnant Heinz Guderian.

The men of the Panzerwaffe, are referred to as Panzertruppen (Armoured Troops), were distinguishable by their close fitting black uniforms, known as Panzer wraps.

After 1943, the Panzerwaffe, like most other German branches of service, had relaxed the uniform rules and many Panzertruppen wore a variety of clothing, including camouflage and winter items.

During World War II they converted again to armoured reconnaissance divisions by the name of Panzergrenadier divisions consisting of motorized infantry (or armored infantry for some of the battalions, when sufficient (18 vehicles) half-tracked armored carriers were available), with self-propelled artillery( three battalions, each one with 14 self-propelled guns)[1] and Jagdpanzer, and in some cases a significant panzer component.