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N005362 ORG. TODT OFFICER'S M43 FIELD CAP.
(Einheitsfeldmütze M43)BACKGROUND: The OT, Organization Todt, was originally established in July 1933 under the command of Dr. Fritz Todt, an NSDAP member since 1923 and a construction engineer, who had just recently been appointed as General Inspector of Roads. In June 1938 the OT was charged with building the fortifications on the West Wall and in March 1940 Dr. Todt was also appointed as Minister of Munitions & Armament. In August 1941 Dr. Todt was also assigned as Minister for Water and Energy. Beginning in early 1942 the OT was also responsible for constructing the submarine pens on the northern coast of France. While the OT was a quasi-political organization when it was engaged in construction projects for the armed forces it nominally came under military control. The OT personnel consisted mostly of trained civil engineers and laborers. Uniforms for OT personnel were introduced shortly after the outbreak of the war and were basically the same uniform as worn by RAD Reichs Arbeits Dienst, (National Labor Service), personnel with minor variations. The OT also adopted the M43 cap as introduced for wear by the army on June 11TH 1943. 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.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Mid-brown wool/rayon blend construction cap features fold down back and side panels with a scalloped front edge and forward sides, and two silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal button front closure. The buttons have all original stitching. The top crown edge is piped in bright (now age tarnished), interwoven, silver/aluminum braiding. The front center of the cap has a machine woven national eagle in off-white threads and a national tri-color cockade, both on a woven, mid-brown rayon trapezoidal base. The insignia is machine stitched to the cap. The cap has an extended, cloth covered, forward visor with an internal stiffener with a single row of reinforcement stitching to the bottom and top of the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in a brushed green cotton/rayon blend material. The lining is well marked with white inkstamped size "57". Cap is complete with a dark brown 40mm leather sweatband in the typical high quality fashion of a good private purchase maker with the separate doweling and oilcloth covering between the sweatband and caps body. Stitching is just starting to pull loose in a couple of places but is still 90% intact.
The cap is in overall very good condition with small areas of light to moderate nap wear and minor age and usage toning. Scarce, nice quality, private purchase OT Officer’s cap.GRADE **** PRICE $575.00
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