Various Styles of THE D.A.K. PALM SYMBOL as used in North Africa

The most common symbol used by the Deutsches Afrikakorps on their vehicles was the stylized palm tree/swastika. It was carried on vehicles of the 15. PzDiv. and 21. PzDiv., including tanks, recon vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, etc. However, there seems to have been very little consistency in its style or application. Some were obviously hand painted, others were applied using stencils or friskets of one kind or another. In the majority of cases it appears in white on a darker background. Size and placement on the vehicles was as varied as the design itself, and seems to have been left up to the individual units. Shown here is an overview of the more common variants, in no special order, along with a brief description of where they appeared on the vehicle and the approximate size.

PALM-1 below

Spotted on an SdKfz. 222 armored car this vignetted style uses either black or the original panzer gray as background. It appears well forward on the right side plate, and likely on both sides. Approximate height = 10"

PALM-2 below

Here we see a smaller version, which was hand-painted directly onto the left side vent shield of a Pz.IV from 15th Pz.Div. with the original panzer gray still showing as the background color. Approximate height = 7".

PALM-3 below

This version appeared on the left front fender of a captured Chevrolet 3-ton truck which had been pressed into service with 21. Pz.Div. Background color was likely faded black. Approximate height = 12".

PALM-4 below

This variation appears quite large on a truck door with a mottled background. It appears to have been applied with a frisket and has quite soft edges where the spray has managed to sneak under the edge of the frisket. Approximate height = 14".

PALM-5 below

Here we see a combination of the palm tree, a Towed Artillery tactical marking, and the 15. Pz.Div. tactical sign. These appeared on the front left fender of a Kfz. 15 Horch recon vehicle. Approximate total height = 18"

PALM-6 below

In this instance a rather "spidery" palm symbol is painted black on a sand background. It appeared on the front left fender of Rommel's "Moritz" captured AEC armored command vehicle. Approximate height = 10"

PALM-7 below

This "combination" example appears to have been applied with a master stencil, because of the tell-tale breaks in the palm leaves. Found on the front left bow of a 15. Pz.Div, command Pz.III. Approximate height = 12"

PALM-8 below

Displayed well forward on the upper side plates of an SdKfz.251/3 , this symbol appears to sit on a crude scrubbed background, just behind the right viewport. Approximate height = 12"