BACKGROUND: The severe cold encountered on the Russian front in the winter of 1941/42 found the Germans completely unprepared not only in heat retaining cold weather garments but also snow camouflage garments. This resulted in numerous, hastily improvised and makeshift heat retaining and snow camouflage items being utilized including everything from civilian winter clothing to white bed sheets. After the winter of 1941/42 the Oberkommando des Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), recognized the need for heavier winter clothing and testing began in the spring of 1942 to develop suitable garments. In April 1942 Hitler approved the chosen design, and the first models were issued in the autumn of that year, included assorted winter fur caps. The fur caps were a standard issue item and were distributed to all EM/NCO’s for the winter season, (September 15^TH to April 15^TH), with other winter garments and were to be returned to the units storage depot at the end of the season for storage, repair and cleaning to be reissued the following September. Originally Officers and senior NCO’s responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and headgear were required to purchase the new winter garments until regulations of December 1942 extended the issue winter clothing to all ranks in the colder theatres of operation. Although there was no official standard model of the fur cap the most commonly encountered type followed the basic pattern of the Mountain and M43 caps with fold down back and side panels designed to protect the wearers ears and neck.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Multi-panel, Luftwaffe blue/grey wool and simulated, synthetic brown fur construction winter cap features four crown panels, dual fold down neck and ear panels and a fold down front panel. The obverse of the neck, ear and front panels are in the simulated, synthetic brown fur with the reverses in blue/grey wool with machine stitched seams. The neck and ear panels can be secured in the upright position by dual, grey rayon tie tapes with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave, or folded into the downward position to protect the wearer’s neck and ears and secured with the tie tapes tied under the chin. The fold down front panel has been handstitched in the upright position. The cap has no insignia. The interior of the cap is fully lined in quilted, ribbed, grey cotton twill with an internal padding. The lining has a small, white, cotton tag with red, machine woven initials, "OP", handstitched in place. The lining is also well marked with a faint, purple size inkstamp, "56". The cap is in overall very good condition with areas of light nap wear and minor age and usage toning. Of Note: A photographic example of this style cap van be seen in J. Halcomb’s & W.P.B.R. Saris’s book, Headgear of Hitler’s Germany Volume I in the middle of page 342.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $450.00