H004779 MOUNTAIN TROOPER'S, MOUNTAIN CAP EDELWEISS.
(Edelweiss für Bergmütze)BACKGROUND: On May 2ND 1939 the OKH, Oberkommando des Heeres, (High Command of the Army), authorized wear of a distinctive Edelweiss tradition badge by Mountain Troop personnel to be worn on the upper right sleeve of the service, dress and field uniforms and headgear. The design of the Edelweiss badge was based on a badge introduced by Emperor Franz-Joseph I in 1907 for the Austro-Hungarian Alpine troops and granted for wear by Imperial German Alpine troops in 1915 as an honorary emblem of bravery. The badge came in three forms with a cloth version for wear on the upper right sleeve of the service uniform, a stemless, metal version for wear on the visor cap and a stemmed, metal version for wear on the mountain cap. Of Note: Originally regulations, unsuccessfully, dictated the Edelweisses were to be removed from wear if an individual was transferred out of a Mountain Troop unit. On November 12TH 1944 regulations were altered to permitted continued wear of the Edelweiss after transfer out of a Mountain Troop unit as long as the individual had combat experience while serving with the Mountain Troops. The stemless pattern Edelweiss was to be worn on the visor cap positioned below the national eagle and above the oak-leaf wreath and national cockade while the stemmed version was to be worn on the left side of the Mountain cap. Of Note: The Edelweiss, (Noble White), (scientifically, {Leontopodium Alpinum}), is a European Mountain flower of the Asteraceae, (Sunflower), family which tends to flourish in inaccessible, rocky, limestone locations at altitudes ranging from roughly, 6,560 to 9,515 feet, (2,000 to 2,900 meters), making it a most suitable emblem for Mountain troops.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Two piece, die stamped sheet metal construction, burnished matte grey and gilt washed, mountain cap, edelweiss with an extended, dual leaf stem, nine extended, irregular petals and a separate, gilt washed, magnetic sheet metal, six bulb stamen. The stamen is secured to the edelweiss by two, small tabs inserted into a corresponding slash that are visible on the reverse. The edelweiss has four, small, pin holes in the petals and one in the stem designed for stitching it to the cap.
GRADE ****1/2 PRICE $59.00
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