Germany, Heer. A Rare Heer General’s Bergmütze

(Heer Bergmütze für General). A rare and early Heer General’s Bergmütze, constructed of fine field-grey doeskin wool. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side panels, scalloped at the front, offering ear and neck protection for the wearer. When not in use, the panels are rolled up and secured in place with two buttons emanating from the right flap, which meet two reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. Each button is constructed of a pebbled and gilded non-ferrous metal cap over a zink base, and bears an illegible maker’s mark. A band of gold bullion wire piping trims the exterior edge of the crown. Each side of the crown is flanked by a ventilation hole, reinforced with a bronze eyelet, in turn secured with a zink grommet. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a classic T-shaped rayon backer, overlaid by a machine-embroidered silver-grey Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, just above a tricolour cockade. The eagle insignia measures 60 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) overall. Completing the exterior features is a protruding cardboard-reinforced visor, similarly lined with field-grey doeskin wool. The interior features a brown leather sweatband lining the lower circumference, securely held in place with a row of machine stitching. Pinned onto the back of the sweatband is an aluminum medallion bearing a letter “J”. It is also fully encompassed by a slate-grey rayon liner, presenting plain with the exception of a black ink size mark of “58” on the crown. The cap measures approximately 210 mm (w) x 275 mm (l) x 145 mm (h). Issues consistent with age and field use are evident, and include some fatigue to the wire features, wear to high-contact points of the wool, and soiling of the sweatband and interior liner. This rare and experienced cap is in an overall near extremely fine condition.