BACKGROUND: The M43 field cap was introduced for wear by all ranks on June 11^TH 1943 as a replacement cap for the other field caps then in use. The design of the M43 field cap was based on the earlier M42 Feldmütze, (Overseas cap), and the Mountain Troopers Bergmütze, (Mountain Cap), with minor variations. The standard issue M43 field caps were constructed of field-grey material while a black version was introduced at the same time for Panzer personnel. Officer’s ranks were distinguished by piping on the crown of the cap with silver piping for field and company grade ranks of Leutnant to Oberst and gilt piping for General Officer’s ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall while EM/NCO’s caps were not piped. Further regulations also dictated that the buttons on the cap were also to be an indicator of rank with field-grey buttons for EM/NCO’s, silver for field and company grade officers and gilt for General’s ranks but this was not strictly adhered to. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their caps from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase visor caps of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their caps from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored caps although the price may have been restrictive. The German army originally adopted a slightly modified version of the NSDAP’s, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), national eagle by order on February 17^TH 1934, with instructions to have it applied to all steel helmets, visor caps, and tunics by May 1^ST 1934. Regulations followed on October 30^TH 1935 that stipulated the national eagle was also to be applied to all field caps. On March 14^TH 1933 the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era oval black, red and gold cockade was replaced with a circular cockade in black, white, and red and was utilized through-out the Third Reich period. Of Note: Although army General Officer’s ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall were authorized wear of a gilt national eagle and wreath on their visor caps as per regulations of January 1^ST 1943 there is no evidence to support the wear of the gilt national eagle on the army’s General’s ranks M43 field cap.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This cap is an issued example with the addition of General’s ranks, gilt piping. Nice quality, slightly mottled, field-grey wool/rayon blend construction cap features fold down back and side panels with a downward scalloped front edge and forward sides and two, gilt washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal, front closure buttons. The back and side panels were designed to be folded down to protect the wearer’s ears and neck and the scalloped front section could be secured with the buttons closed under the wearer’s chin. The buttons retain over 95% of their original, age dulled, gilt finish and appear to have their original stitching. The top outer edge of the crown is trimmed in bright, interwoven gilt wire piping. The front center of the cap has an early pattern, machine woven national eagle with outstretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in it’s talons in bright, silver flat-wire threads, positioned above a national tri-color cockade, with a black rayon outer circle encompassing a bright, silver/aluminum flat-wire, (white), inner circle and a red center dot, all mounted on al dark, blue/green, woven rayon, "T" formed base. The insignia is neatly machine stitched to the cap. The cap has an extended, cloth covered, forward visor with an internal stiffener with a subtly raised lip and a single row of reinforcement stitching to the bottom of the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in subtly ribbed, greyish tan, cotton/rayon blend material and is well marked with a black size inkstamp, "59", the date, "6/44", and an RB number. Of Note: The RB numbers, Reichsbetriebnummer, (National factory code numbers), were introduced in late 1942 and were intended to replace the manufacturers marks on garments and equipment to conceal the manufactures name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The cap is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning, one small moth nips to the bottom edge of the visor and an additional two small moth nips to the reverse, fold down panel.