BACKGROUND: The M43 field cap was introduced for wear by all ranks on June 11TH 1943 as a replacement cap for the other field 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 standard issue M43 field caps were constructed of field-grey material while a black version was introduced at the same time for Panzer personnel. Officer’s ranks were distinguished by piping on the crown of the cap with silver piping for field and company grade ranks of Leutnant to Oberst and gilt piping for General Officer’s ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall 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 field-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 army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), 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. The German army originally adopted a slightly modified version of the NSDAP’s, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), national eagle by order on February 17TH 1934, with instructions to have it applied to all steel helmets, visor caps, and tunics by May 1ST 1934. Regulations followed on October 30TH 1935 that stipulated the national eagle was also to be applied to all field caps. On March 14TH 1933 the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era oval black, red and gold cockade was replaced with a circular cockade in black, white, and red and was utilized through-out the Third Reich period. Of Note: Although army General Officer’s ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall were authorized wear of a gilt national eagle and wreath on their visor caps as per regulations of January 1ST 1943 there is no evidence to support the wear of the gilt national eagle on the army’s General’s ranks M43 field cap.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, field-grey wool/rayon blend construction cap features fold down back and side panels with a downward scalloped front edge and forward sides and two, gilt washed, pebbled, alloy front closure buttons. The back and side panels were designed to be folded down to protect the wearer’s ears and neck and the scalloped front section could be secured with the buttons closed under the wearer’s chin. The buttons retain over 98% of their original, faded, gilt finish and have their original stitching. The top outer edge of the crown is trimmed in interwoven gilt wire piping. The front center of the cap has the rare machine embroidered national eagle in gilt wire threads. The eagle is positioned above a highly vaunted, padded, hand embroidered national tri-color cockade in black and silver/aluminum wire with an inserted red felt centerpiece. The outer edge of the cockade is trimmed with a fine stripe of gilt wire threads. Both eagle and cockade are neatly hand stitched to the cap. The cap has an extended, cloth covered, forward visor with an internal stiffener with a subtly raised lip 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 and has a partial leather sweatband. Cap is roughly a size 55/56. Rare cap.