A Pair of Doppelfernrohr Very Scarce SS Panzer Commander's Type 10x 50 Binoculars

Maker coded 'bmj' M.Hensoldt & Sohne AG Wetzlar 10 x 50 with serial number. In military leather case. A distinctive characteristic of the Panzer manufacturer supplied synthetic outer body covering They are in superb condition. Although a souvenir of WW2, they are not just a simple war trophy or a booty item.

bought by Carl Zeiss in 1928 but the company still continued using the company name of Hensoldt & Sohne

Panzer commanders relied on 10x50 Dienstglas binoculars (often made by manufacturers like Hensoldt Wetzlar with code bmj) for high-magnification reconnaissance and target identification from the hatch of their armored vehicles.

The 10x magnification allowed commanders to spot enemy anti-tank guns, infantry positions, and rival armor at much greater distances A 50mm objective lens diameter ensured a bright image even in low-light or dusty conditions, which was vital in environments like the Russian Front or North Africa
Unlike heavy tripod-mounted flak optics, the handheld 10x50 configuration struck a balance of power and portability, making them easier to maneuver inside a cramped turret.

3 Photos in the gallery show an SS Panzer with a Panzer Commander and a Panzer Officer, both sitting atop, and both with the highly distinctive Panzer binoculars being worn, and a superb photo from the bundesarchive of a closeup of a Tank commander with his binoculars in good detail


Also in the gallery, a photo of Heinrich Himmler with his 10 x 50 panzer binoculars, standing next to Hitler, and an SS-Panzer grenadier-Regiment 25 (12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend") at the Ardennes Abbey/Normandy, late June 1944. On the left is regimental commander SS-Obersturmbannführer Heinz Milius, in the centre (with compact close quarter use binoculars) and standing to his left and slightly behind, his subordinate officer, carrying, over his left shoulder, his 10 x 50 SS tank commander binoculars, and lastly a U-Boot commander using his at sea. Photos for information only

Code: 26381