A fine example of the black wool beret cover worn by a member of the German army's panzer corps. This cover would have been stretched over an interior 'crash helmet' constructed of rubber and worn for the purpose of protecting the wearer's head while inside a tank. The cover is rough 12.5 in. diameter with a BeVo style machine-embroidered cloth national eagle above a cockade between a double spray of oak leaves. Interestingly, affixed over the red cockade at the center is a Totenkopf ('dead head') unit insignia of the German Panzer Corps. This insignia, usually worn on the collar tabs of panzer soldiers, was likely affixed on purpose to give it the appearance of a Waffen-SS Panzer beret, for which it may have at one time been substituted. No evidence of moth holes or tears, very fine condition.