BACKGROUND: The M43 field cap was originally introduced in the German army, for wear by all ranks, on June 11TH 1943 as a replacement cap for the other field caps then in use. On October 1ST 1943 the Police and the Waffen-SS also adopted the M43 field cap. 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. On its introduction a black version was also introduced for wear by Polizei crews serving in armored vehicles. Police NCO ranks M43 caps were un-piped while the Officer’s version were issued with silver/aluminum piping for the ranks of Polizei Meister to Polizei Oberst and gilt piping for the ranks of Polizei Generalmajor to Generaloberst der Polizei, inclusively. Of Note: The German Police had no enlisted ranks with the lowest rank being an Unterwachtmeister which was equivalent to the German army rank of Unteroffizier. Generally the early versions of the M43 cap came with a two button front retainer while the later versions reduced it to a single button.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Police green wool/rayon blend material construction cap features fold down back and side panels with a downward scalloped front edge and forward sides and two, small, field-grey painted, pebbled sheet metal closure buttons to the front center. The back and side panels were designed to be folded down to protect the wearers ears and neck and the scalloped front section could be secured with the buttons closed under the wearers chin. The front center of the cap has a combined, second pattern, (circa 1936-1945), machine woven, wreathed police eagle in mouse grey threads and a national tri-color cockade in black, white and red threads on a woven, six sided police green rayon base. The insignia is machine stitched to the cap. The cap has an extended, cloth covered, forward visor with a pliable, internal stiffener with a subtly raised lip to the top of the forward edge and a single row of reinforcement stitching to the bottom of the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in grey/green cotton/rayon blend. Rbnr# marked. Size marked 57. Nice cap!