A 1942-Issue LuftwaffeNCO’s Artificial Fur Winter Cap “Ushanka” by G.A. Hoffmann

This is a Luftwaffe EM-NCO’s artificial fur winter cap manufactured by G.A. Hoffmann, know for their fine quality manufacture Panzer Overseas Caps. The core of the cap consists of four pieces of thick Luftwaffe grey wool sewn together using grey twine, with the addition of a single piece for the side flaps, and another piece for the forehead. The exterior of the cap features a well-preserved Luftwaffe Officer’s eagle, constructed of rolled and flat silver aluminum bullion embroidery. All flaps are lined with white wool piling, and feature ties which serve to hold the flaps in place on-top of the cap when not in use, or as a chinstrap. The interior core of the cap is lined with a lightly padded grey cotton liner and boasts a fully preserved maker’s label reading “G.A Hoffmann, Berlin, S.W 29”, with “1942” for the year of issue, and a stamp “59” for the size. In addition, the interior is embroidered “A 114.” in green threading, as well as two sadly illegible stamps.  The cap measures 258 mm x 180 mm, and is generally well preserved, with obvious signs of having been worn in active duty. The originally white wool is soiled from wear, and has turned an even grey colour, and with the interior liner of the core being lightly discoloured. However, the exterior of the cap does not depict obvious signs of wear, with the wool being extremely well preserved.

Footnote: This cap is an exact copy of the Soviet M40 “Ushanka” fur hat, which, when captured, was a valuable trophy used by Germans on the eastern front to stay warm. In response to the harsh Russian winter, the Luftwaffe contracted select German uniform manufacturers to produce a similar “Ushanka” style cap for their troops on the Eastern Front.