Please show your Tropical caps

[Alain]

Hello Ralph

I'm always glad to see so much nice DAK items !!!
and to have so explicit explanations !
Merci - Alain

[Alain]

Jim , you have a very desiderable cap ... I love it !

[Ralph Heinz]

Pz. sidecap

Here is a sidecap with an original Panzer rosa soutache. This one was made by Karl Kubach and is dated 42. This is one that is well used. I've got a couple other sidecaps that are unissued and which are probably from the cache of these found in storage in recent decades long after the war but at least this one was worn and is faded. It came from the family of a deceased inland NW veteran but there's no record of where it was captured. Panzer crewmen did wear these sidecaps inside their tanks because the lack of a bill allowed them to avoid low hanging projections with their heads.

Others in Panzer regiments also wore the rosa soutache -- mechanics, tank recovery crews, anti tank crews, and others although wartime photos show most men working outside favored the billed field cap instead of the sidecap.

[ROBB]

Ralph thanks for the info ,its a minefield out there ,great collection ,Rob

[Patrick Dempsey]

Hi again Ralph,

thanks for the further input and explanations on the tropical caps, i suspect you will have just saved quite a few fellow collectors (especially me, as i'm getting interested in tropical caps) lots of their respective £'s, Euros, and $'s.
Much appreciated indeed .
One last thing....you can't leave us with just the one shot of that stunning panzer ensemble.
Can you...... ?
I'd love to see details of the shirt too if you ever find the time.

Thanks again,

Patrick.

[J Melvin]

Here are a few more. This one is a field made cap. In a recent thread on a SS field made cap, the remark was made that faux scallops wouldn't be found on a field made piece. Below is the exception to the norm.

[J Melvin]

Here is one that I got from Ralph and reflects his comments relating to the transition period from the maker name to RBNr. This one reflects size markings only. Ralph told me that it was probably a Kriegsmarine manufacturer of caps.

[J Melvin]

Interior

[J Melvin]

A better shot of the markings as explained by Ralph.

[J Melvin]

Here's an officer's private purchase billed cap. Like the other, it is only size stamped on the interior.

[J Melvin]

An interior shot.

[J Melvin]

Here's the family portrait.

[LeeG]

KM tropical

Here's my favorite tropical: a KM M41 style. A vet liberated this in Italy.

[LeeG]

inside

[ReichsHeini]

Waffen SS Tropical Cap 1941

This one was my favorite tropical cap. It has a very rare pattern skull. The insignia were really outstanding on this cap. This one I sold though a few months ago to a happy new owner.
This is an issue cap probably made in 1941 as it has the early tan lining.