Minifigure – a Leutnant (Lieutenant) of the German Army’s Panzertruppe (Tank Troops) during World War II (LEGO Compatible)

This image displays a toy minifigure representing a Leutnant (Lieutenant) of the German Army’s Panzertruppe (Tank Troops) during World War II.

The figure is depicted in the distinctive black Panzer uniform worn by German tank crews. This special uniform was designed to be practical within the confines of a tank and to hide oil and grease stains. He is shown wearing two headgear options:

• The main figure wears the black officer’s peaked visor cap (Schirmmütze), which features the silver piping of an officer and the Wehrmacht eagle and national cockade insignia.
• The inset image shows the figure wearing a field grey M43 field cap (Einheitsfeldmütze), also with officer piping, which would be worn in the field or more casual settings.

His rank as a Leutnant (Lieutenant), a junior officer, is indicated by his shoulder boards and collar tabs (Kragenspiegel). Crucially, the collar tabs and the piping on the shoulder boards are pink (Rosa), which was the specific Waffenfarbe (branch color) designating the Panzertruppe.

He is decorated with the ribbon of the Iron Cross Second Class in his buttonhole and the Panzer Assault Badge (Panzerkampfabzeichen) on his left breast pocket, signifying participation in armored combat actions.

The figure carries a brown briefcase printed with the word “Wehrmacht” and the army eagle emblem, suggesting an officer carrying documents or personal effects.

Historical Background: A Panzer Leutnant was typically a platoon commander, leading a group of three to five tanks into battle. These junior officers were at the forefront of Germany’s famous Blitzkrieg tactics, commanding the spearheads of armored assaults. The black uniform and the pink branch color are iconic symbols of the German tank forces that dominated the early battlefields of World War II.