Germany, Heer. An EM/NCO’s M43 Field Cap, Postwar-Modified by Bavaria Filmkunst

 (Heer Einheitsfeldmütze M43 für Mannschaften). An interesting 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, which provide optional ear and neck protection to the wearer. When not in use, the panels are rolled up and fixed in position with two pebbled magnetic metal buttons which emanate from the right panel and meet a pair of reinforced buttonholes set into the left panel. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a field-grey cotton/rayon blended cloth backer bearing a machine-embroidered silver-grey Wehrmacht eagle clutching a swastika, situated above a tri-colour cockade, measuring 60 mm (w) x 45 mm (h). The crown is flanked on each side by a ventilation hole reinforced with a non-magnetic metal grommet. Pinned onto the left panel is magnetic metal Jäger insignia, measuring 40 mm (w) x 48 mm (l), and featuring a post-manufacture green paint scheme. Completing the exterior features is a protruding visor constructed of identical field-grey cloth. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece grey rayon liner with a herringbone twill (HBT) weave, and is surrounded by a replacement dark grey leather sweatband situated over the remnants of an additional sweatband which has been cut down. Stamped onto the crown is a mark of “BAVARIA FILMKUNST”, indicating that the cap was an authentic wartime prop used in film productions by Bavaria’s pre-eminent film studio, with a handwritten mark of “55” (most likely indicating size, in place of obscured wartime marks, but possibly an inventory number). Original wartime marks remain visible but illegible on the crown. It measures approximately 18 cm (w) x 25 cm (l) x 13 cm (h). In addition to the aforementioned modifications, other refurbishments consistent with film production use are evident, and include replacement of the peak insignia, the removal of the visor’s card stock core, and stitching modifications and reinforcements throughout the interior. This quintessential example of a wartime cap utilized in the production of war films remains in a very fine condition.