H40454 JÄGER EM/NCO'S TROPICAL OVERSEAS CAP. (Tropenfeldmütze) 

BACKGROUND: In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms, headgear and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. One of the new headgear items introduced was the tropical overseas cap that followed the basic design of the earlier, modified, M34 overseas caps. On their introduction these caps were originally designated, "Mütze, oliv, für Panzerschützen", (Cap, Olive, for Armored Soldiers), and apparently were intended for wear by armored personnel although they were issued to all branches of service. Originally the tropical overseas caps had a branch of service soutache applied to the front consisting of an inverted "V" flanking the national tri-color cockade but regulations of July 10^TH 1942 abolished the use of the soutache and instructed it to be removed from the caps, although the directive was not strictly adhered to. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Ribbed olive/khaki, cotton twill construction cap with fold down side and back panels with gently sloping, downward scallops to the front and the forward sides. As is typical the fold down panels are handstitched in the upright position at the front center of the cap. The cap has a tan painted, metal alloy ventilation grommet to both sides situated just below the crown edge. The ventilation grommets retain all of their tan paint. The top center seam is correctly stitched right through the interior liner, for added strength. The front center of the cap has a machine woven national eagle in light blue/grey threads on a cut-out, woven tan rayon base. The eagle is neatly machine stitched to the cap. The front center of the fold down panel has a machine woven national tri-color cockade, on a woven, tan rayon, diamond shaped base which is also machine stitched in place. The tri-color cockade is flanked by an inverted "V", light green rayon branch of service soutache. 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. Of Note: Due to the overlapping use of various shades of green waffenfarbe by Schützen, Jägers, Gebirgsjäger, and Panzer Grenadiers, it is difficult to attribute the branch of service with absolute certainty. The interior of the cap is fully lined in light weight red cotton. The lining is well marked with a black size inkstamp, "56", and the manufactures name, location and date within an oval cartouche, "Clemens Wagner Braunschweig-Hamburg Mrz. 42". The cap is in overall very good condition with a couple of small tears and minimal age and usage toning.

To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail

-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca  Or  guild@nb.aibn.com

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