Offiziersanwärter: Decorated with the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse

     A driver of a Panzerkampfwagen V Panther smiles for the camera after having just been decorated with the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse (Iron Cross 2nd. Class). This decoration for bravery in the face of the enemy was relatively common, being awarded nearly five million times to individuals during World War Two. The award was typically presented to the recipient in a blue paper packet with “Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse 1939” printed on it. Inside the packet was the medal and the ribbon. The recipient also received an award document and his soldbuch (the standard military identification document) was noted with the award and the date it was received. For the purposes of the photograph, the ribbon was fitted through the ring on the medal and looped around the lapel of his panzerjacke (more commonly referred to as a panzer wrap). The medal was not worn on the uniform and so soldiers usually either put it with their belongings or sent it back home. The ribbon would be fitted through the upper buttonhole on the left lapel of the jacket and sewn down.

     For rank, the driver is a Gefreiter and this is denoted by the single chevron on his sleeve. This rank was the equivalent to a Private First Class in the U.S. Army. However, around his schulterstücke (shoulder boards) can be seen two loops of silver tress. This denotes him as being a Offiziersanwärter, or Officer Aspirant. Thus, he would attend one of the Kriegsschulen (war schools) and while in the school, he would hold the rank of Fahnenjunker-Unteroffizier. As he neared completion of his studies, his rank would become Fahnenjunker-Feldwebel. Finally, upon graduation, he would serve in the role of acting Leutnant with the rank of Oberfähnrich. Once he earned his commission, his rank would then become Leutnant. The course of study was an intense, eight week program which taught leadership and command skills and techniques. Once this program was completed, the Offiziersanwärter moved on to a Truppenschule, or branch of service school. In this soldier's case, it would be to a Panzertruppenschule. Other branches, such as combat engineers (pionier) and medical personnel had their own schools.

      The piping along the schulterstücke and the collar of the panzerjacke was pink as was the piping around the collar tabs. This was the waffenfarb, or branch color, of panzer troops. Earlier in the war, a pink inverted chevron called a soutache was sewn over the Reichskokade on the front of the M1938 feldmütze (field cap) being worn here but as the war went on, this was done away with for simplicity sake and in any case, the later M1942 feldmütze had a two-button front which when undone, allowed the sides of the cap to fold down over the wearer's ears. This new style left no room for the soutache. This photograph also gives a detailed view of the kehlkopfmikrofon (throat microphone) and the accompanying kopfhörer (headphones) which were used for communication within the tank by the crew members. The metal bar near his arm is the rung fitted to the outside of the driver's hatch. Because of this feature, the model of the PzKpfw V is either an Ausf A or Ausf D series Panther as the hatch swiveled to the side. The Ausf G model used a hinged hatch.