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What is the origin of the lake tank image that has become a meme? (2021)

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544 points napolux | 3 comments | 20 Nov 24 13:30 UTC | HN request time: 0.457s | source
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hermitcrab ◴[20 Nov 24 15:37 UTC] No.42194833[source]▶
Germans pioneers wore white uniforms? That sounds like the worst possible colour for digging ditches, recovering tanks or camouflage (if it isn't snowing). Why would they do that? Did Hugo Boss do the design?
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1. icegreentea2 ◴[20 Nov 24 17:34 UTC] No.42196283[source]▶
From the link, the white pants are part of the "Drillich" work uniform. From searching around, these were intended as work uniforms / overalls. You were intended to wear these (there were both pants and jackets) over your actual uniform, and these would take the abuse.

It seems like the early war patterns were simply undyed. Mid-war versions were apparently dyed darker.

Here's a forum with a bunch of pictures of examples: https://www.militariacollectors.network/forums/topic/4042-th...

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2. hermitcrab ◴[20 Nov 24 18:14 UTC] No.42196662[source]▶
Undyed coveralls makes sense, thanks.
3. thetisxviii ◴[20 Nov 24 22:14 UTC] No.42198675[source]▶
Post WW II the Panzer IV's were offloaded to the Middle East. But it competed well with its Soviet T-34.

At first it looked like Czech military fatigue but the confluence of two rivers points to Germany.

> The man is an unnamed German pioneer likely at the time of recovery.