BACKGROUND: Following the army’s lead the Luftwaffe introduced the M43 field cap on September 27^TH 1943 to replace the Flyer's and Mountain 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. Officer’s ranks were distinguished by piping on the crown of the cap with silver piping for the ranks of Leutnant to Oberst and gilt piping for General Officer’s ranks of Generalmajor to Reichsmarschall while EM/NCO’s caps were not piped. Further regulations also dictated that the buttons on the cap were also to be an indicator of rank with blue/grey buttons for EM/NCO’s, silver for field and company grade officers and gilt for General’s ranks but this was not strictly adhered to. Officer and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Luftwaffe’s Verkaufsabteilung, (Air-Force Sales Department), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their caps from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase visor caps of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their caps from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored caps although the price may have been restrictive.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Late war production mottled, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon, blend construction cap, features fold down side and back panels with a scalloped front with two blue/grey washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal button closure at the front center. 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 both retain about 95% of their original blue/grey wash and appear to have their original stitching. The top crown edge is piped in bright, interwoven silver/aluminum cord indicating the ranks of Leutnant to Oberst inclusively. The front center of the cap has a hand embroidered, second pattern, Luftwaffe eagle in bright silver/aluminum and bullion threads with tan accent threads on a cut-out blue/grey wool base. The eagle is machine stitched to the cap. The cap has no national tri-color cockade or any evidence that one was ever applied. The cap has a short, fabric covered, extended, 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 in coarsely woven, unbleached, natural tan cotton. The cap has no visible manufacturers or size markings. The cap is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning a couple of small handstitched repairs. The cap is roughly size 55.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $700.00