BACKGROUND: The M34 Overseas cap for wear by EM/NCO personnel was initially introduced on March 24TH 1934, with non-functional front buttons, and a different insignia configuration. Regulations of October 1935, did away with the buttons and altered the insignia utilized on the cap. The M34 cap was worn by EM/NCO’s until the introduction of the newly designed M42 overseas cap on July 21ST 1942. The different branches of service within the army were allocated a particular identifying waffenfarbe color with white being chosen for Infantry personnel. Originally the early M34 and modified M34, (circa October 1935), overseas caps, were outfitted with an identifying branch of service soutache until regulations of July 10TH 1942 abolished the use of the soutache and instructed it to be removed from the caps, although the directive was not strictly adhered to. Of Note: The M34 overseas cap was only intended for EM/NCO’s ranks while officers ranks wore the old "Crusher" style visor cap until the introduction of the officer’s M38 overseas cap on December 6TH 1938. Officially wear of the old "Crusher" style visor caps was extended until April 1ST 1942.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Modified, October 1935 pattern, field-grey wool/rayon blend construction cap with fold down side and back panels with gently sloping, downward scallops to the front and forward sides. The cap has a field-grey enamel painted, metal alloy, ventilation grommet to either side, just below the crown edge. The front center of the cap has a machine woven national eagle in pale mouse grey threads on a cut-out, woven field-grey rayon base. The front center of the fold down panels has a machine woven national tri-color cockade, on a woven cotton, diamond shaped base. Both the eagle and the cockade are neatly handstitched to the cap. The cap has an inverted "V" , white rayon soutache flanking the cockade indicating service with the Infantry. The soutache has been applied in the correct manner, being machine stitched in place and inserted through two small puncture holes near the bottom edge of the cap. The interior of the cap is fully lined in ribbed, grey cotton twill. The lining is well marked to "Jäger & Kemper" in Wuppertal, size 54, and date for 1938. The cap is in excellent overall untouched condition, very clean.