BACKGROUND: In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, the German army quickly developed and issued tropical uniforms and equipment in time for DAK, Deutsches Afrika Korps, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. At the same time the Luftwaffe also developed and introduced their own version of the tropical uniform, headgear and equipment independently from the other branches of service. Originally the tropical uniforms were only intended for wear in North Africa but that was later expanded to include personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe during the summer months, (May 1ST to September 30TH). The tropical overseas cap was based on the standard continental overseas cap but in a different color and material. The tropical overseas caps were piped in the same manner as the continental style overseas caps, and later the M43 field caps with no piping for EM/NCO ranks, silver piping for Officer’s ranks and gilt piping for General Officer’s ranks.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Light weight, ribbed, tan cotton twill construction cap features fold down side and back panels with gently sloping, downward scallops to the front and forward sides. The front center of the cap has a machine embroidered, second pattern, tropical Luftwaffe eagle in pale silvery/grey threads on a ribbed, tan cotton twill base. The cotton twill base has been folded into an inverted triangle and is hand stitched in place. The front center of the cap has a machine embroidered, second pattern Luftwaffe eagle in silvery/grey threads on a cut-out blue/grey wool base and the front center of the fold down panels has a machine embroidered, padded, national tri-color cockade on a cut-out tan rayon base. Both the eagle and the cockade are neatly handstitched to the cap. The interior of the cap is fully lined in light weight tan cotton. The lining is well marked with a faint, black manufacturers ink stamp with location and date, "Berolina Berlin 1942". Size marked 57. Very nice cap!