Germany, HJ. A Flak Helper’s Field Cap

(HJ-Flakhelfer Feldmütze). A very well-preserved HJ Flak Helper’s field cap, constructed of padded dark grey wool. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side panels, scalloped at the front, providing optional ear and neck protection to the wearer. When not in use, the panels are rolled up and secured in place at the front with a pebbled blue bakelite button which emanates from the right flap and meets a reinforced buttonhole on the left flap. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a machine-embroidered multi-coloured HJ insignia, measuring 16 mm (w) x 28 mm (h). Completing the exterior features is a protruding cardboard-reinforced visor, fully lined in identical wool. A multi-piece light grey rayon liner fully encompasses the interior, reinforced with a machine-stitched checkered diamond pattern. The crown retains a mostly-intact Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) label bearing a maker’s code of “43” and secondary code of “17583”. Also visible on the crown is a black ink size mark of “55”. The cap measures approximately 185 mm (w) x 240 mm (l) x 115 mm (h). It demonstrates only minor wear to high-contact points consistent with light usage. The cap is in an overall near extremely fine condition.