Tropical M43 aand Strange Italian Cap

[münster]

Hi

All came in from US Vet

Does anyone know what happened to this Italian Cap?

Iam wondering if the GI did this or maybe was in German use?

Best
D

[münster]

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[münster]

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[NZMark]

Good mid/late m40 cap in untouched condition. I'd like to see the interior a bit more clearly. Any maker marks left?
Can't comment on the wool item at all...
Mark
NZ

[RobertE]

The wool cap looks like an Italian style, or foreign volunteer, with an added breast eagle.

s/f Robert

[OSS]

Nice veteran grouping almost surely from someone who served in Italy. The breast eagle may have been added by the GI to improve the Italian Army field cap.

[afrikasandman]

Dion,

Both caps are without a doubt originals but I'd bet about anything that the eagle is a GI added item to that Italian cap. Matt

[münster]

Morning, yes Matt, I think the GI added the breast eagle , neat though.

There are capture papers on all of it but the family for some odd reason will not part with them

[Dennis S]

All your assumptions about the vet adding the eagle are most likely correct ,but the possibility of it being done wartime exists. Never to be proved though. The use of the breast eagle instead of a hat eagle is odd though and leans more to vet added.

The following are photos of Italians wearing Italian and German uniform parts belonging to RSI units 1943-45. Including use of TR Eagles on uniforms and hats.

[Dennis S]

Another center photo breast eagle on italian tunic

[Dennis S]

Hat Eagles and breast Eagles on both Italian and German uniform parts.

Just to give you an idea ,but again the eagle was most likely sewn by vet

[münster]

Its solid,,one grommet missing backing but solid in there,,,size marking sweat blurrred, it has definitely been in theater.

[münster]

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