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K020159 COASTAL ARTILLERY EM/NCO'S OVERSEAS CAP. (Feldmütze)
BACKGROUND: Land based Navy personnel, primarily Coastal Artillery members, were originally issued field-grey uniforms and headgear as early as 1921. The use of the field-grey garments continued through-out the Weimar Reichsmarine era, (Circa 1919-1933), and on into the Third Reich period. On September 19TH 1935 the Kriegsmarine officially introduced the field-grey overseas cap for wear by all Coastal Artillery EM/NCO’s. Originally the overseas caps, were outfitted with a golden yellow soutache until regulations of October 13TH 1942 abolished the use of the soutache and instructed it to be removed from the caps, although the directive was not strictly adhered to. The army’s M34 pattern overseas cap was also issued to Kriegsmarine personnel on a limited basis. Regulations of March 29TH 1939 introduced a field-grey overseas cap for Officers and senior NCO’s that was almost identical to the EM/NCO’s version with minor variations. Regulations of July 12TH 1940 introduced gilt piping, for Officers holding the ranks of Leutnant zur See up to and including Grossadmiral ranks, (Silver piping for Administrative Officials), to be applied around the forward edge of the flaps of the overseas caps to distinguish them from EM/NCO’s ranks. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and headgear and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the OKK, Offizier Kleiderkasse der Kriegsmarine, (Officer’s Clothing Account of the Navy). Although enlisted personnel were issued their uniforms and headgear from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored items although the price may have been restrictive. Generally speaking officers bought nice quality, private purchase, uniform items but they could also choose to buy their uniforms directly from the military clothing depots.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Slightly mottled, field-grey wool/rayon blend construction, overseas cap features fold down side and back panels with gently sloping, downward scallops to the front and forward sides. As is typical the fold down panels are handstitched in the upright position at the front center of the cap. The original owner has personalized the cap by addition of a some hand and machine stitching to the top center seam of the crown for a more relaxed appearance in spite of regulations prohibiting the practice. The front center of the cap has a machine woven national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in it’s talons, in golden yellow rayon threads, mounted 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, in black white and red rayon threads on a woven, field-grey, rayon, diamond shaped, base. Both the eagle and cockade are neatly handstitched to the cap. The cap has no soutache or any evidence that one was ever applied. The interior of the cap is fully lined in ribbed, greyish/tan cotton. The lining has is well marked with the faint, black inkstamped size, "60", the date, "44", and an RB number, all within a rectangular border. 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 excellent condition with minimal age and usage toning and nap wear.
GRADE ****1/4 PRICE $558.00
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