German Panzer Crewman Panzerwaffe World War II In the early parts of World War two, Germany had fewer armoured vehicles than their enemies. Early tank designs such as the light Panzer I tank were technologically inferior. The tank commander and his crew however, were highly skilled and well trained. Panzer crewmen wore close fitting black uniforms, known as Panzer wraps inspired by the traditional uniform of the Brunswick Hussars. The headgear was a beret which worked as a soft padded crash helmet or a black field cap.