BACKGROUND: The M42 overseas cap was introduced for wear by EM/NCO personnel on July 21^ST 1942, as a replacement for the earlier M34 pattern overseas cap. The M42 cap was designed to offer more protection from the cold for the ears and neck and the design pattern was based on the Mountain Troopers Bergmütze, (Mountain Cap), but without the visor. After its introduction the M42 overseas cap was worn for the duration of the war although it never fully replaced the M34 overseas caps. The German army originally adopted a slightly modified version of the NSDAP’s 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 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Slightly mottled, field-grey, wool/rayon blend construction cap with fold down back and side panels with gently sloping, downward scallops to the front and forward sides and two, field-grey painted, pebbled, alloy, 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 about 60% of their original, field-grey, paint and appear to have their original stitching. The cap has a matte grey painted, alloy, ventilation grommet to either side, positioned just below crown edge. The grommets retain all of their original, matte grey paint. The front center of the cap has a machine woven national eagle with outstretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in its talons, in mouse grey rayon threads, on a cut-out, woven, field-grey rayon base positioned just above a machine woven, national tri-color cockade in black, white and red rayon threads, on a woven, field-grey, diamond shaped, rayon base. Both the eagle and the cockade are handstitched to the cap. The interior of the cap is fully lined in grey cotton/rayon blend material. The lining is well marked with a faint, black size inkstamp, "54". The cap is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning and some minor nap wear.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $625.00