K01255 COASTAL ARTILLERY EM/NCO'S M43 FIELD CAP. (Einheitsfeldmütze M43) 

BACKGROUND: Land based Navy personnel, primarily Coastal Artillery members, were issued field-grey uniforms and headgear as early as 1921. The use of the field-grey garments continued through-out the Weimar Reichsmarine era and on into the Third Reich period. Originally the M43 field cap was introduced for wear by all ranks in the German army 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. Following the army’s lead the Kriegsmarine adopted the M43 field cap for wear by naval personnel wearing field-grey uniforms, on September 1^ST 1943. Officer’s ranks were distinguished from EM/NCO’s ranks by the addition of gilt piping on the outer crown edge of the cap. Of Note: The MVBl, Marineverordnungsblatt (Official Naval List), listed the introduction date as September 1^ST 1943 and used the designation Feldmütze 42. Due to the time period it is speculated that the introductory date actually referred to the M43 cap. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, 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 field-grey, pebbled, alloy button front closure. The back and side panels were designed to be folded down to protect the wearers ears and neck and the scalloped front section could be secured with the buttons closed under the wearers chin. The buttons appear to have their original stitching and retain about 95% of their original field-grey paint. The front center of the cap has a unique insignia configuration with a machine woven national eagle in golden yellow threads on a field-grey rayon base and a separate machine woven national tri-color cockade, on a diamond shaped, blue/green rayon base. The eagle has a section of its original field-grey rayon factory roll folded into a trapezoid shape with the cockade positioned vertically at its bottom edge. Both pieces of insignia are machine stitched to the cap in the typical zig-zag fashion. The cap has an extended, cloth covered, forward visor with an internal stiffener with a subtly raised lip to the top of the forward edge and a single row of reinforcement stitching to the bottom of the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined with brushed grey rayon/cotton material. The crown lining is well marked with black inkstamped size, "63", date, "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 minimal age toning and small spots of minor nap wear. Nice large size example in overall very good condition.

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

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