Germany, SS. A Waffen-SS Officer’s M43 Field Cap, c. 1944

(Waffen-SS Einheitsfeldmütze M43 für Offizier). An extremely well-preserved Waffen-SS Officer’s M43 field cap, constructed of field-grey wool twill. 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 two pebbled magnetic metal buttons which emanate from the right flap and meet an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left flap. The outer edge of the crown is fully trimmed with a band of white wool piping, reflecting the change from aluminum Officer’s piping in caps manufactured from 1944 until the end of the war. Stitched onto the peak of the cap is an insignia consisting of a field-grey rayon trapezoid bearing a machine-embroidered, silver-grey, SS-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, just above a second pattern Totenkopf. The peak insignia measures 60 mm (w) x 43 mm (h) overall. Completing the exterior features is a protruding card stock-reinforced visor, fully lined in identical wool twill. The interior features a partial light brown leather sweatband set across the forehead. It is also fully encompassed by a multi-piece grey rayon herringbone twill (HBT) liner. The latter is unmarked with the exception of a partially-legible size mark of “57” stamped onto the crown in black ink. The cap measures approximately 215 mm (w) x 120 mm (h) x 250 mm (l). Light soiling is visible to the exterior of the cap, but no other damage or wear is evident and it is in an overall extremely fine condition.