Original World War Two German Waffen-SS Officer’s M43 Field Cap by Clemens Wagner in excellent condition.
Extremely handsome and well preserved textbook field-grey Italian wool/rayon “Gabardine” blend construction cap made by the famous manufacturer CW Clemens Wagner. Featuring a subtle whipcord weave and fold down back and side panels with a scalloped front edge and forward sides and dual small, silver washed, pebbled, alloy button retainers positioned at the front center. The back and side panels were designed to be folded down to protect the wearers ears and neck and the scalloped front section could be secured with the buttons closed under the wearers chin. The top edge of the crown is trimmed in silver wire piping. The front center of the cap has a Waffen-SS Trapezoid cap insignia as developed for wear on the M43 cap. The insignia consists of a BeVo woven SS style national eagle and Totenkopf skull in matte silver/grey threads on a woven field-grey/green trapezoid base. The insignia is original factory machine sewn to the cap. The cap has a fabric covered forward visor with an internal stiffener with a small raised lip to the top of the forward edge and a single row of reinforcement stitching to the bottom of the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in a finely woven silk/rayon blend and features a light tan leather sweatband with minimal wear to both, although this hat was clearly worn due to the minimal soiling.
Although faint from wear, the Size 57 stamp is still legible.
Note: Most of these caps seen, though uncommon, are generally seen with “Statni Film Studio” stamps inside indicating post war film use, unlike those caps; this cap is an untouched original in excellent condition.
The M43 field cap, originally introduced in the German army on June 11th 1943, was designed to replace other field caps in use. It was later adopted for wear in the Waffen-SS on October 1st, 1943, and was based on the earlier M42 Feldmütze (Overseas Cap) and Mountain Troopers Bergmütze (Mountain Cap) with some minor differences. A black version was also made for Panzer (Armored) personnel. Officer’s M43 field caps, from the rank of SS-Untersturmführer up to Reichsführer-SS, were distinguished from EM/NCO’s caps by the addition of silver piping to the top crown edge and, occasionally, to the scalloped forward edge of the fold down panels as well. Generally the early versions of the M43 cap came with a two button front retainer while the later versions reduced it to a single button. The insignia utilized on the M43 field caps consisted of the SS pattern Totenkopf (Death’s Head) as introduced in October 1934 and the SS pattern national eagle as introduced in February 1936.
The cap insignia could be placed on the front center of the cap in one or two pieces, or separately with the Totenkopf on the front center and the eagle on the left side panel. However, it was most common for both pieces of insignia to be applied to the front center. SS Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were required to buy their own uniforms and headgear, leading to the establishment of the SS-Kleiderkasse (Clothing Account) system in Munich in 1935. They were allotted a one-time clothing allowance from the government, the amount varying based on rank. Officers and senior NCOs could opt to purchase higher quality garments and headgear privately, though the cost may have been prohibitive. As the Waffen-SS rapidly expanded during the outbreak of the war, the SS-Kleiderkasse followed suit and established nine main offices in various occupied countries such as Poland, Norway, France, Czechoslovakia, and Russia. The expansion of the Waffen-SS allowed for the SS-Kleiderkasse to cover a larger area and provide support.
Significant to mention: After Germany's Italian allies were defeated with the arrest and imprisonment of Mussolini on July 25th, 1943 and the surrender of Italy to the allied forces on September 8th, 1943, Germany acquired a substantial amount of Italian clothing and equipment. Consequently, a considerable portion of subsequent Waffen-SS uniforms and headgear, mainly Officer's versions, were made from the Italian material in field-grey. Also of historical importance: On September 13, 1943, the Germans performed a bold rescue mission to save Mussolini. Under Hitler's persuasions, Mussolini began developing the puppet state RSI, also known as the Italian Social Republic, on September 17th. Unfortunately, this attempt to bring fascism back to Italy was unsuccessful. The RSI, together with the GNR, or Republican National Guard, formed on November 20, 1943, continued to battle in Italy under the command of the Germans.
