Germany, Kriegsmarine. A Coastal Artillery EM/NCO’s M43 Field Cap, by Heinrich Balke

(Kriegsmarine Einheitsfeldmütze M43 für Mannschaften der Küstenartillerie). A well-preserved Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery EM/NCO’s M43 field cap, constructed of coarse 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 roll up and are secured in place at the front with pebbled buttons which emanate from the right flap and meet an equal number of reinforced buttonholes on the left. Stitched onto the peak is an insignia consisting of a dark green rayon base bearing a machine-embroidered golden-yellow Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 70 mm (w) x 25 (h) (as visible). The lower edge of the eagle insignia is overlaid by a tri-colour cockade presented on a dark green rayon base, itself measuring 25 mm (w) x 25 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 dark grey rayon liner fully encompasses the interior, with the crown bearing a maker’s mark of “HEINRICH BALKE MÜTZENFABRIK, BREMEN” and a size stamp of “57”. The cap measures approximately 20 cm (w) x 26 cm (l) x 14 cm (h). Minor soiling is visible to the interior liner, but the cap demonstrates no notable damage or wear. This field-worn example remains in an extremely fine condition.