Hello

Regarding Shutzen side shirts. What would the primer color and or base color be before camouflaging? What would scratches look like on them?

I know they were easily lost, bent, torn, penetrated, etc.

Like the rest of the vehicle, they would have been primed in red oxide prior to assembly. We know from photographs that they were often fitted before the vehicle was painted because there are numerous examples with dark (which we take to be primer) stripes where the area was covered by Schuerzen during painting which become visible when one or more was later removed. Some Panthers also show dark stripes where the plates were replaced in different positions so that the overlaps are now visible.

Correct German word is Schürzen or Schuerzen for those who don`t have Umlaut keys.