Germany, Heer. An EM/NCO’s M43 Field Cap, by Herman Potthoff

(Heer Einheitsfeldmütze M43). A Heer EM/NCO’s M43 field cap, constructed of field-grey wool twill. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side panels, gently scalloped at the front, offering optional ear and neck protection to the wearer. When not in use, the panels are rolled up and secured in place with two black bakelite buttons on the right panel meeting two reinforced buttonholes on the left. Stitched onto the peak of the cap is an insignia consisting of a field-grey rayon trapezoid, bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, just above a tricolour cockade. The insignia measures 55 mm (w) x 40 mm (h). Completing the exterior features is a protruding cardboard-reinforced visor, fully lined with identical wool. A slate-grey rayon liner encompoasses the interior and bears a number of black ink stamps on the crown. These include a Reichsbetriebsnummer of “0/0520/001”, indicating manufacture by the firm of Hermann Potthoff, Coesfeld, a size mark of “55”, and a manufacture date of “1944”. The cap measures approximately 195 mm (w) x 260 mm (l) x 125 mm (h). The cardboard visor reinforcement has been cracked in the centre, but the cap is otherwise free of wear and is in an overall near extremely fine condition.