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. The insignia on the caps included the Luftwaffe style national eagle and the circular, black, white, and red national tri-color cockade as introduced on March 14^TH 1933. The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, on August 18^TH 1934 and was officially adopted for wear by all Luftwaffe personnel on March 1^ST 1935. The original, short winged, first pattern national eagle was utilized until a, slightly modified, second pattern national eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations dictated that the national eagle was to be worn on almost all headgear and on the right breast of almost all uniforms with a few minor exceptions. 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: Light weight, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon, blend construction cap, with a subtly ribbed weave, features fold down side and back panels with a scalloped front with dual, ordnance, blue/grey painted, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal closure buttons positioned 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 wearer’s chin. The buttons retain over 95% of their original, blue/grey paint and appears to have its original stitching. The front center of the cap has a machine embroidered, second pattern, (circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons, in silvery/grey threads on a cut-out blue/grey wool base positioned above a separate, machine embroidered, padded, national tri-color cockade in black, red and white rayon threads. The cockade has an unusual repeating, waffle pattern. Both the eagle and cockade are handstitched to the cap. 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 in greyish/tan rayon. The lining is well marked with a faint, purple size inkstamp that appears to be, "55". The cap is in overall good condition with light to moderate age and usage toning and some light, coppery toned, staining to the Luftwaffe eagle.

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $485.00