WW2 Nazi SS German Mountain Troop Cap

[Empereur]

Hey guys, considering buying this cap.

Information and knowing if it's authentic or not.


Description Given : Here is a fine example of original German WWII combat cap. The mountain troopers, like the men of the Waffen-SS, could be considered Germany's WWII elite.


Sorry about the small pictures, It's all I was given.

[Friedrich-Berthold]

Might I suggest this is perhaps a Bundeswehr cap with probably a fake badge on it. Sadly... A Waffen SS mountain troop cap is totally different, and I am sure some of nice people here can furnish you an image.

[Empereur]

Alright thanks, yeah I though that wasn't a mountain cap.



Other than that, does the hat check out?

[Friedrich-Berthold]

Alright thanks, yeah I though that wasn't a mountain cap.



Other than that, does the hat check out?

Your image is very nice, as a start. But I am sure the other sites have very clear images of Bergmuetzen for the army and the Waffen SS. You might also look on the collector's guild website, the proprietor of Mr. Whamond. He always has very clear images.

[Empereur]

I believe the cap to be a M43 Field Cap.


EM/NCO'S M43 FIELD CAP. (Einheitsfeldmütze M43)

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 the 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, (Circa 1919-1933), Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), 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.

LINK & PICTURES The Collector's Guild

[Dimas]

This one is not a 3 Reich cap, as Friedrich-Berthold say this one is looks post war issue.

[bwanek1]

This one is not a 3 Reich cap, as Friedrich-Berthold say this one is looks post war issue.

Yup, which makes the likelihood of that eagle being original pretty darn slim...though stranger things have been found.

[jmpreacher]

I am new to this forum and am not sure how to post. Sorry for any mistakes in advance. I have a ring that was given to me by my father who is now deceased. The story behind the ring is that my uncle was shot down over Normandy on D-Day. He parachuted to safety, found a dead German officer, stole his clothes, and personal affects and made his way back to the American line, almost getting shot in the process by his own forces. He gave this ring to my father before he passed away because no one in his family wanted it. Any idea if it is possibly authentic and any truth to this story. I know from my dad that he has had the ring from the early sixties when my uncle gave it to him. Please email at jmpreacher@gmail.com if you have any ideas and what it might be worth.

[Friedrich-Berthold]

I believe the cap to be a M43 Field Cap.


EM/NCO'S M43 FIELD CAP. (Einheitsfeldmütze M43)

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 the 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, (Circa 1919-1933), Reichswehr, (National Defence {Force}), 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.

LINK & PICTURES The Collector's Guild

Thanks for the additional data. Whamond writes complete descriptions, but what is missing here are two minor points: in the first instance, this kind of cap was borrowed originally from the Habsburg army, especially, I think, from various formations in the 1914-18 war. Mountain caps in the Wehrmacht of an earlier date, i.e. prior to 1939 or so, were of the greener field grey of that era, and had shorter bills. I also was told this was the distinction between the 1943 model field cap you secured from Whamond here and the actual mountain cap. But I enjoin others to post adequate images. If you look on the lord of the flies site (awards site) you can surely find images. There are people there who seem to have a high competence in Gebirgsjaeger material. This kind of cap is still worn in the Bundeswehr, Bundesheer and Hungarian armies.

[bwanek1]

I am new to this forum and am not sure how to post. Sorry for any mistakes in advance. I have a ring that was given to me by my father who is now deceased. The story behind the ring is that my uncle was shot down over Normandy on D-Day. He parachuted to safety, found a dead German officer, stole his clothes, and personal affects and made his way back to the American line, almost getting shot in the process by his own forces. He gave this ring to my father before he passed away because no one in his family wanted it. Any idea if it is possibly authentic and any truth to this story. I know from my dad that he has had the ring from the early sixties when my uncle gave it to him. Please email at jmpreacher@gmail.com if you have any ideas and what it might be worth.

To me, this sounds like a bogus story from someone trying to sell a fake ring, rather than someone trying to learn about family history.

I can't imagine any Allied officer being stupid enough to put on an enemy uniform while trying to evade capture and fighting to return to friendly forces. Not only would he be making himself a target for his own side, he would be committing a war crime (which fighting in the enemy's uniform is) and risk likely being shot as a spy if captured by the Germans. Weak story to go with what looks like a biker's ring.