Germany, Luftwaffe. An EM/NCO’s Single-Button M43 Field Cap

(Luftwaffe Einheitsfeldmütze M43). A very well-preserved Luftwaffe EM/NCO’s M43 field cap, constructed of 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 by a single pebbled and grey-painted zink button emanating from the right flap and meeting an analogous buttonhole on the left flap. Two ventilation holes flank the crown, both reinforced with grey-painted zink grommets. Stitched onto the peak with its factory original zig-zag stitching is an insignia consisting of a dark grey wool backer bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Luftwaffe eagle clutching a mobile swastika. The eagle insignia measures 72 mm (w) x 42 mm (h). Directly beneath the eagle is an additional insignia consisting of a machine-embroidered tricolour cockade, measuring 22 mm in diameter. Completing the exterior features is a protruding cardboard-reinforced visor, lined in identical wool. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece grey rayon liner, which presents plain with the exception of a black ink size mark of “57”. The cap measures approximately 200 mm (w) x 260 mm (l) x 150 mm (h). Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some exterior soiling, bending of the visor core (with no cracks apparent), and moderate soiling of the interior liner. The cap is in an overall near extremely fine condition.