BACKGROUND: Following the army’s lead the Luftwaffe introduced the M43 field cap on September 27^TH 1943 to replace the Flyers 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. Officers 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: Coarsely woven, mottled, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon, blend material construction cap, features fold down back and side panels with a downward scalloped front edge and forward sides, and two small, blue/grey painted, pebbled, magnetic, sheet metal closure buttons to 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. One of the buttons retains all of its original blue/grey paint while the other retains about 70% with a small spot of moderate surface spotting and both appear to have their original stitching. The front center of the cap has a second pattern, (circa 1936/1937-1945), machine embroidered, Luftwaffe eagle in silvery/grey threads positioned above a national tri-color cockade in black, red and white threads, on a Luftwaffe blue/grey trapezoidal wool base as introduced in May 1943. The insignia is handstitched to the cap. The cap has an extended, cloth covered, forward visor with an internal cardboard 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 grey rayon with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave. The rayon lining shows moderate age and usage toning and is well marked with a faint, black size inkstamp, "58", an illegible date and a RF number. Of Note: The RF numbers were intended to conceal the manufacture’s name and location from the allies, to prevent bombing raids on German industrial factories. The cap shows light to moderate age and usage toning and nap wear, a few small rips and tears and a crudely handstitched repair to the bottom edge of the visor.

GRADE ***                                     PRICE $556.00