BACKGROUND: The M34 Overseas cap for wear by EM/NCO personnel was initially introduced on March 24TH 1934, with non-functional front buttons, a branch of service soutache and the Reichswehr era national cockade. Regulations of October 1935, did away with the buttons and altered the insignia utilized on the cap. The M34 cap was worn by EM/NCO’s until the introduction of the newly designed M42 overseas cap on July 21ST 1942. Although based on the modified M34 field-grey overseas cap as introduced in October 1935, the black version of the overseas cap wasn’t introduced until March 27TH 1940, as Panzer crews were being issued with the black Panzer beret previous to that. Due to the fact that the Panzer Beret was unpopular with the troops and didn’t facilitate the use of the headsets it was discontinued in January 1941, to be replaced with the newly introduced black overseas cap. The different branches of service within the army were allocated a particular identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with pink being chosen for Panzer, (Armored), personnel. Of Note: The general waffenfarbe for all armored units was pink although other colors were utilized including red for armored artillery units, golden yellow for armored reconnaissance units and the 24TH Panzer Division, lemon yellow for armored signals units and, for a short time, alternating black and white for armored engineer units. Originally the early M34 and modified M34, (circa October 1935), overseas caps, were outfitted with an identifying branch of service soutache until regulations of July 10TH 1942 abolished the use of the soutache and instructed it to be removed from the caps, although the directive was not strictly adhered to. Of Note: The M34 overseas cap was only intended for EM/NCO’s ranks while officers ranks wore the old "Crusher" style visor cap until the introduction of the officer’s M38 overseas cap on December 6TH 1938. Officially wear of the old "Crusher" style visor caps was extended until April 1ST 1942.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Black wool/rayon blend construction cap, with fold down side and back panels with downward scallops to front and forward sides. Cap has a black enamel painted, metal alloy, ventilation grommet to either side just below crown edge. Front center of cap has a machine woven national eagle in mouse grey thread, on a cut-out, woven, black rayon base. Eagle is neatly handstitched to cap. Front center of the fold down panel has a machine woven national tri-color cockade, on a diamond shaped, woven blue/green rayon base. Cockade is also neatly handstitched to cap. Cockade is flanked by a lemon yellow silk waffenfarbe soutache in an inverted "V" pattern. Soutache is machine stitched to the cap and has been applied in the proper manner being inserted through the bottom edge seam of cap. Fold down panels are stitched in the upright position at front center. Interior of cap is fully lined in ribbed, grey rayon. Lining is profusely marked with numerous inkstamps. Inkstamps include assorted numerical and Cyrillic script stamps indicating the cap was in Russian hands at one point. Some of the original German inkstamps have been blotted out but are still partially legible. Legible inkstamps include size, "58", date, "B.II.40", additional date, "1941", and "Lago-Berlin", indicating, Landes-Lieferungs-Genossenschaft, (State Supply Cooperative). Exterior of cap is in near mint condition, with no rips, tears, mothing, or staining. Great cap!