Tropical LW sidecap in blue?

[Overijssel]

I read a thread in which a "blue tropical side cap" was introduced.
I like the story about the blue tropical side cap, but something about it doesn't seem ok to me. Does anyone exactly know what this cap is? I'm asking this because I was told this was a cap for Luftwaffe mechanics (same colour as their coveralls and easier to clean than wool) and had nothing to do with being tropical....And: why produce a dark blue, tropical cap when the official colour of the tropical tunics/headgear was khaki? Just think about it: in hot areas you want to wear a light colour and noy something dark (absorbs heat).


Can anyone help out?

Thanks,
Eric

[uknews]

Eric, i own one of these tropical caps, they were made by Berolina of Berlin. I believe there is even one for sale currently on the estand. Anyway, check this thread out to see a couple of examples including mine.
Mark. http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...light=berolina

[J Melvin]

Early trops can be found in blue. There was also an entire set of matching webbed gear in blue. I've at one time owned it all. There is a blue HBT overseas cap and that may be what you are thinking of. It is the same color/material of the blue HBT coveralls. I've at one time owned each of those as well.

I've got no problem with the blue trops. They existed, but were not as widely issued as the tans.

[Larry F.]

Hello. Buy the book "Afrikakorps" by Kurtz and you will see some of David Bunch's fine Luft Blue Tropical Collection. Really rare and amazing stuff.

Best,

Larry F.

[Gene]

If you need pics, a blue HBT example just sold on Peter Whamond's site

http://www.germanmilitaria.com/Luftw...s/L023157.html

[Overijssel]

Thanks everybody, the reason for my question was that a blue sidecap was offered to me, together with a salty m43 in the same cloth for a price that you pay for normal caps. It was my understanding they where used by mechanics and they had nothng to do with tropical. But since the general opinion is these caps are tropical and even used by Fallschirmjäger , I think I'll have a bargain! As soon as the caps arrive, I'll post pics. By the way, the blue one sold on germanmilitaria.com was not a Berolina.....
Thanks for the info!

[J Melvin]

The cap on Pete's site I would believe to be a mechanic's cap enhanced by the addition of a cockade (and maybe even the eagle). The material matches perfectly the blue HBT mechanic's coveralls. Not tropical in my opinion.

The OS cap on the estand is what I would expect from a blue tropical cap. I believe a blue version of the M41 is in the previously mentioned book and is in David Bunch's collection. I certainly want to see photos of the one you have coming as it will be only the second that I can remember seeing photos of.

[Overijssel]

tropical cap

Thanks Jack! I was also offered a side cap in blue in herringbone twill; is that what you think is a mechanics cap (no eagle, just a cockade)?

However; I just contacted the owner op the m43 blue tropical blue cap, but it 's gone

But the side cap is on it's way. I'll post the pics of that one anyway....It's the same as the one offered on the e-stand but another maker and in a mint condition...

[J Melvin]

The mechanic's cap should never have the cockade on it. Superstition of "soiling the national colors". If anything, they should have only the eagle. That's why the black HBTs only have the eagle and never the cockade.

[J Melvin]

Looking at the cap on Pete's site again, I'm pretty certain that I've owned that cap at one time. But, not in that configuration....

[Overijssel]

and how about this one? Blue, herringbone, silk lining + cockade, no eagle

[Overijssel]

pic2

[Overijssel]

pic3




stamped: L -eagle- S

[Overijssel]

cap 2: how about this one?

[J Melvin]

I can't say that I like either. The top cap may be Luftschutz, but I don't know anything about their headgear. I'm not fond of the markings in either.