Heer M43 Cap Insignia

Product Description: This is a nice original example of a German Heer M43 Cap Insignia. This pattern of insignia was introduced in 1943 for wear on German Army field caps, particularly the M43 field cap worn from 1943-45. This is a quality version, in Bevo machine woven construction, and was likely made in 1943 or 1944. It features a nicely executed gray German eagle and swastika emblem, over a red, white and black Reich colors cockade, on a field gray trapezoid. The backing fabric is a typical, thin, field gray rayon. This Heer M43 Cap Insignia is complete, just as it would have been when cut from a factory roll. It’s an unissued, unworn example, with no stitch holes, and no sign of even ever having been folded. The reverse is textbook, with visible details of the machine woven construction. The Heer M43 Cap Insignia condition is near mint.

Historical Description: The German Armed Forces (Wehrmacht), as formed in 1935, and as they existed until the end of World War 2, consisted of the Army (Heer), the Air Force (Luftwaffe) and the Navy (Kriegsmarine). The Waffen-SS fell under the command of the Wehrmacht during the war. Each of these branches of service had a unique eagle design that was worn on both the formal dress and parade uniforms, and the field uniforms, of the members of that branch. These eagles were worn on soft headgear, including service and field caps, as well as on the uniform jacket. In the Heer, the Luftwaffe, and the Kriegsmarine, this eagle was worn on the chest of the tunic; collectors have termed these “breast eagles.” The Heer and the Luftwaffe generally used the same eagle style, though variations in color of the eagle or the backing distinguish between the two. The Luftwaffe used their own flying eagle emblem. The Waffen-SS sleeve eagle (and cap eagle) had wings that came to a distinctive tapered point. The cap, breast and sleeve eagles used by the various military branches were manufactured in many variations. There were machine-woven and machine embroidered versions, usually used by officers and NCOs. Hand-embroidered bullion wire eagles were typically for officers. There were metal eagles, for caps, or for uniforms that were intended to have detachable insignia. There were even eagles embroidered on camouflage fabric, intended for use on special field uniforms. There were also eagles in specific colors for use on tropical uniforms. Some of these eagles were mass-produced and are still common today. Others were, and are, very rare.

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