Hi
Finally, it came today, the last piece to enable me to post this time-line of caps.
The basic idea is to show an example of each cap as they developed through the years to give an idea of how they changed.
These caps differ from the service cap in respect of their basic softer design to allow ease of use in the field environment. This included leather peaks, some had no peaks but the idea was always about functionality and practicality.
I am only covering peaked Nco's caps for the Imperial section rather than enlisted man's. There is already an excellent thread on Kratzen in the imperial forum which i would recommend.
So here we go........
The Imperial field cap for officers and nco's came with a leather peak and was not allowed for wear other than in the "field". They were private purchase items and the main difference was the cap band. Velvet for officers and cotton material for Nco's.
the cap did not have the stiffened springs at rear and sides of the cap as found in service caps.
This example if for an artillery/pioneer NCO's
Next example is the same branch of service, again for an Nco but in "grey" circa 1907 onwards. The other interesting point on this cap is the red cap band has a black band sown over the red one, a common practice on Imperial caps.
In 1908/9 a peaked cap was also introduced for use by other ranks who served certain functions. This included soldiers of the train and medical services.
This example is for medical personnel and also sports the grey leather peak and chin strap authorised from 1915 / 1916 onwards.
Next change came with the universal field cap circa 1917 and the end of coloured piping. These examples were also supposed to come with a field grey peak and chin strap (either leather) or more likely at this point in the war ,ersatz materials such as in this example, card board.
The reichswehr adopted a new type of cap based on the 1917 field cap but with a cloth peak. This was used by both officers and enlsited men. The piping remained field grey as did the cap band.
In 1928/29 they also experimented with a field cap for enlisted men but this was not adopted as the time. This example is tatty but original and dated 1929.
But it did bear a similar resemblance to the side cap that was eventually accepted for other ranks from 1934 onwards. This example has no soutache attached to show branch of service.
1934 also saw the introduction of the officers field cap with leather peak to help distinguish them from the herd. A post 1936 for a signals officer is shown.
1938 and the officers side cap is introduced and this remained till 1943. An infantry officers is shown below. The soutache was ordered removed from these cap in 1942.
1943 the visored universal field cap is introduced with a cloth peak. This is the one that also remained in use for the services of post war germany.
Thanks for looking cheers
tony
Bookmarks