Heer Afrika Korps DAK cap

[Nachrichten]

While it might be an original field made cap, am pretty doubtful. Its 50/50 at best. No-one can say for sure. Maybe he picked it up in Alaska which would explain a few things....

I agree. The obituary really does not support the 'story'.

I have some issues with the overall condition, as well. The stitching and the grommets are almost pristine. I have seen a similar cap fabricated from wartime fabric (Brtish Army). The fabric looks right and is appropriately aged. It is similar to LW tropical, albeit a bit more 'khaki'.

N

[afrikasandman]

It reminds me of a cap that I had in the construction and what not and I don't doubt its period done but probably to replace another cap. The insignia don't match the wear but they do match each other, makes me think it was taken from a ruined or unrepairable cap and placed on this one.... of course opinions are like butt holes and everyone has one. I like it more than I don't. Matt

[Mr.Jerry D]

I am going with Italian made LW cap.

[billbert]

Quite real ..non standard..with or W/O story..but I believe both..Billbert
ps and luft like in origin...
pps 5800 posts..yikes..

[90th Light]

This is an interesting thread. I think what people seem to forget in all this, by 1942 the DAK or Army Afrika had run out of certain uniform items. Caps and shoulder boards were particularily in short supply, especially because of the need to have the correct soutache/ piping colour.

Most of what was needed had gone to the bottom of the ocean. The quarter masters in Afrika started using every trick in the book to supply i.e. alteration, resizing, custom made or field made to meet demand.

To my eye if this cap is period made, then it has every chance of being Italian made. Some features match up with other Italian made caps that I have in my collection. These also have come directly from veterans or are in museums here in NZ.

It probably will not sell for any where near the price of an M40 without soutach. However, I do like it as the variation from the norm. A symbol of the shortages of mid-late 42 Afrika or custom made for the fighting in Italy 43-45.

The fighting in Italy is another possibility that must be considered. Many custom made tropical/ M43 caps appeared at that time. They were used by both German, Italian and Croatian forces.

The debate about it being LW or WH, I will leave to others. The question to focus on, is the tropical twill German or Italian ? Many Italian/ custom made caps that one sees in Italy in 1943-45 are that yellow lighter sandy LW shade of twill. Yet they are clearly being worn in period photos by WH, LW, FJ, KM, Pol, Todt & NSDAP construction,

Chris cap

[all1knew]

Chris,

Somewhat related to what you touched base on, here's a Lubstein M40 produced in different shades of cloth; they used whatever they had at the time!

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/cloth-...ak-m40-196961/

William Kramer

[Paul l k]

William,,

Thanks for the link to the vet obtained two tone Lubstein,, what a beauty, I have not seen one before but have heard of them.. As you say it certainly does show just how short of material they became later on in the campaign, due too, as Chris stated loss at sea, shortage in the field etc.. I can see this one started out as a cap with Soutache and what a fine job the German did of putting it together.

[90th Light]

Chris,

Somewhat related to what you touched base on, here's a Lubstein M40 produced in different shades of cloth; they used whatever they had at the time!

http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/cloth-...ak-m40-196961/

William Kramer

Well if its "2-tone" you want William then have a look at this.

Hard to know if it is German or Italian repaired. However, from your point of view and of real interest to this thread. Have a look at the visor, it has been re-made almost exactly the same as the visor on your cap that started this thread.

Note also the use of a yellow, lighter, sandy LW shade of twill for the visor & repairs. This is a type of LW tropical cloth that one often associated with LW tropical tunic & caps used by the FJ units in Afrika and Italy. Yet I would be surprised if any member of the FJ ever wore this cap but who knows for sure.

Now this is just one example of the type of custom/ field made/ repaired tropical M40 cap that I have seen. It also serves as good example to illustrate what I am saying.

At some stage, I will post more images of this cap. It is interesting in several ways. Also it might just help to prove that some tropical boards I have are Italian made rather than reproduction. More on this at a later date.

One can only speculate why the visor was been cut ???

Chris

[90th Light]

Not only have they inexplicably cut the visor, they have also cut they German/ Italian altered back of the cap.

If you can tell me why then please do ???

Just goes to show what is out there when it comes to period variations from the text book norm,

Chris

[John Hodgin]

Hey William,

As I said on the M-41 thread, I agree with OSS, that this was never a Luftwaffe cap. While it may be period made, the twill is more similar to US fabric than period German, or period Italian fabric as suggested in an earlier post. The lining (only) in the crown, the marking, and the fabric it is constructed from cause me concerns.

Regards,
John

[all1knew]

a somewhat similar cap here:

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...5&postcount=44

its nice considering there is a photo of the exact cap in wear.

William Kramer

[all1knew]

took some better photos today.

[all1knew]

2

[all1knew]

3

[all1knew]

4