Germany, Heer. An EM/NCO’s M43 Field Cap, Vienna-Made

(Heer Einheitsfeldmütze M43 für Mannschaften). A Heer EM/NCO’s M43 field cap, constructed of field-grey wool. The cap is fully surrounded by fold-down side panels, scalloped toward the front, providing optional ear and neck protection to the wearer. When not in use, the panels roll up and secure in position with two pebbled aluminum buttons which emanate from the right panel and meet an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. The crown is flanked on each side by ventilation holes which are reinforced with magnetic metal grommets. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a field-grey rayon backer bearing a machine-embroidered tri-colour cockade, measuring 32 mm (w) x 32 mm (h). A protruding visor completes the exterior features, and consists of a rigid card stock core fully lined in identical wool. A multi-piece olive-drab rayon liner encompasses the interior, while a slate-grey leather sweatband extends across the forehead. The crown features a double stamped maker’s mark of “M.C. WIEN”. Otherwise unmarked, the cap measures approximately 21 cm (w) x 27 cm (l) x 13 cm (h). Issues consistent with age and field wear are evident, and include moderate fatigue to both the exterior and interior material, the loss of the peak’s eagle insignia (with minimal disruption to the underlying material), a crack to the centre of the visor core, and some additional soiling of the interior liner. This experienced cap, possibly denazified through the removal of the eagle to permit postwar war, remains in a very fine condition.