A thread on J.P.Mol,Breda(Dutch made)German headgear

[anmarlodz]

First time I see a modification like this one as well, very intriguing! Only conversions I know of are M42 caps being build to a M43 style by adding a brim, but similar M34 or M38 modifications I have not yet encountered.

BTW; I strongly doubt if The Ruptured Duck realizes that this cap is indeed actually a rebuild M31 Dutch field cap?!

I have already seen this style modification in period photo, but it wasn't made with continental headgear but with tropical sidecap.

[NickG]

Here's another JP Mol Breda Kriegsmarine cap (just sold on Estand, congrats to buyer who might not know this history as the cap also has a German distributor stamp a private purchase item). Mol Breda Holland made, using a stamp ("JP M.-B") which mimicks a standard KM depot Acceptance stamp,
but instead using de Dutch manufacturer's initials, so stylized after an official government issuance stamp!
No doubt they just copied a German cap and came up with this design for their KM caps!
Compare with post # 8

[Mannequin]

Made this dutch producer only headgear for Wehrmacht or for dutch military, too? So I don*t know if its a Kriegsmarine hat, 100% for Wehrmacht / Kriegsmarine or its a dutch design, copied of that??

[patrick h]

Mol also made for the NAD : Nederlandsche Arbeidsdienst, the Dutch version of the RAD

[heyst56]

Mol also made for the NAD : Nederlandsche Arbeidsdienst, the Dutch version of the RAD

Yes and for the NSB / WA = Dutch Wa

[timothy downum]

Great thread! so many occupied countries did produce headgear. timothy

[patrick h]

Yes and for the NSB / WA = Dutch Wa

Correct!

[enorepap]

Nick, Gents,

The Mol firm has always been known for "handmade" quality headgear manufacturings. Mol made all these German caps, on demand.
For the Dutch army he was contracted for making caps. (I read he made the caps on demand by the buyer and was paid by the army, located a few 100 meters from his shop).
His shop was situated on the "Grote Markt" Marketplace in Breda, a 100 meters from the Castle of Breda, housing the Military Academy.

I own a nice KM tellermutze made by the Mol firm, nice to see so much of them survived. Will post pics later on.
Most Mol produced items I encounter (the German part) are KM tellermutze, as Etienne says, there is a strong connection between Breda and the 14. S.S.T. Abt. The number of KM hats produced supports so.

Also very nice to see an other Breda manufacter here, the Vogel firm. I know of at least 6 uniforms made by him, surviving the war all of them being Heer officers.

Some additional information about the history of the Company:

With regars to WW2 wartime there were a lot of Mol in the business, as from the 1940 Breda Adresboek:

- J. P. Mol & Zoon Nederl. Pettenfabriek (Hats factory), Zanderbweg 49
- J.P. Mol NV Pettenfabriek (Hats factory), Grote Markt 42
- J.P. Mol Fabrikant (manufacturer), Wilhelminastr. 22
- J.J.M. Mol Pettenfabrikant (Hats manufacturer), Regentesseplein 3

https://stadsarchief.breda.nl/collecties/adresboeken

A postcard of the Company (see left) about 1920:

http://yesteryear.nl/postcards/nl/no...van-Kleef.html

A shot dated 1979 of the rear side of the former hats factory J.P.Mol, Grote Markt 42. In the background the tower of the Great Church:

https://stadsarchief.breda.nl/collec...0-8b37f887d650

In 1941 J.P. Mol NV built a new factory in Speelhuislaan 151. The property is no longer recognized due to a lot of renovations. Behind the office building there was a large factory hall. In 1983, the site of the Mol Company was purchased by the Klavers-Jansen Company due to the fact that their sales were growing but the warehouse spaces and facilities did not always grow at the same rate. Consequently, to provide for this, the adjacent Mol hats factory was purchased. But at some point, the tide changes for Klavers-Jansens and in 2002 their production stopped. So, they largely demolished the building and a plate steel shed was built behind the office building. A large part of the new buildings are currently in use and about thirty companies are housed there, including the Podium Bloos and the theater workshop Tiuri. Podium Bloos is a place for creative encounters, dance, theater, music and literature. So change the times ...

Best regards

[enorepap]

More factory images before and during demolition and renovation works:

https://stadsarchief.breda.nl/collec...+pettenfabriek

Best regards

[enorepap]

Grote Markt 42 in 1925 and in 1942:

https://stadsarchief.breda.nl/collec...focusOnImage=0
https://stadsarchief.breda.nl/collec...focusOnImage=0

Best regards

[Roald Thamesen]

Hello there!
Are these pictures from the book "Uniforms and Insignia of the Cossacks in the German Wehrmacht in World War II" by Harald Tiede and Peter Schuster? O.o

I’ve made great step forward in establishing closer information about side cap couple days ago. Honestly, I was in shock!

My cap turned to be the EARLIEST PATTERN OF OST-LEGIONEN side cap prescribed by Wehrmacht regulations and what is more conversion from to German pattern has been done by using RARE Bevo weaved cockade


As You can see the cap has been converted between autumn 1942 and spring/summer 1943. Accordingly to information provided these cap insignia were prescribed for all Ost units except Kosaken and Turkistanen:

[ATTACH]1886455[/ATTACH]
Next order, from 29^th May 1943 prescribed new method of indicating nationality of new launched units, which are well know and recognizable



[ATTACH]1886456[/ATTACH]

[Roald Thamesen]

Is that colored image also from a book?

Again, insignia from 29^th May 1943 this time in colour:

[ATTACH]1886469[/ATTACH]

Last mystery remain unsolved:- UNIT?

[ATTACH]1886474[/ATTACH]

Please advice (here or contact me) if You have ANY informations regard unit or unit's code system which has been used during preaparation of this label

[RGD51]

When I think of this firm the first piece of headgear that comes to mind are their jaunty, compact pith helmets..... like the 15th Pz dv were issued before leaving for Africa. Im sure one of you guys can post a shot of them.

Robt.

[Tim O'Keefe]

When I think of this firm the first piece of headgear that comes to mind are their jaunty, compact pith helmets..... like the 15th Pz dv were issued before leaving for Africa. Im sure one of you guys can post a shot of them.

Robt.

Here you go...


First couple are studio photos in Germany around Easter 1941.
3rd photo is of Bob's survivor.
4th Is Helmuth's crew on the Tobruk bypass May '41.

[RGD51]

Thanks Tim! Certainly one of the most sought after pieces of headgear by this firm.

Robt.