Tropical M40 "Goldgelb" Recon yellow soutache

[90th Light]

Given the recent discussion about "Goldgelb" Recon yellow shoulder straps in the uniform section of WAF. I thought it only fair to share what started this debate here in New Zealand.

A tropical M40 cap was purchased last year described as having a yellow signal soutache. The cap was know and had been shown in a book on the subject. Everyone was expecting a signal soutache.

However, when the cap arrived and the soutache studied, it soon became apparent that it was in fact a faded "Goldgelb" Recon yellow soutache.

The soutache was carefully checked that it was original to the cap. It passed every test. When it was carefully lifted a bit, to study how it was sewn on to the cap. The true "Goldgelb" yellow of Recon can be seen. This is the brighter, sunshine shade/ hue of Recon yellow.

Several collectors here in New Zealand were skeptical, especially given the rarity of the branch of service among known tropical M40 caps in the world. You can count on one hand how many are known at this stage. May be more will now emerge from the woodwork ????

Thus over the course of the last year, the cap was moved around the country. More than one collector handled it in person and checked that no doubts could be entertained. It was compared with both Calvary/ Recon/ Signal caps and shoulder boards. These caps/ boards were both tropical and continental service.

The over-wheming conclusion = "Goldgelb" Recon yellow, the brighter hue showing real use and fading.

It is hard to photograph but please bear with me while I add images,

Chris

p.s. the eagle has been reapplied to the cap. This was known when the cap was purchased. I have discussed this point some more in the post where the image of the eagle is shown.

[90th Light]

No matter how many different signal yellow should boards you put this soutache against, the bright golden hue of "Goldgelb" Recon shines through.

If anyone want more comparative images then just ask. I have a ton of boards to compare with and have checked against everyone of them plus those in other collections,

Chris

[90th Light]

We also compared it with other field caps with both signal and Recon yellow.

On every comparison made, the yellow of "Goldgelb" for Recon was clearly apparent,

Chris

[90th Light]

When you carefully peel back the soutache to see how it is machine stitched on. The stronger hue of the "Goldgelb" Recon yellow can be clearly seen,

The top side of the soutache shows real wear, use, fading and soiling which is to be expected

Chris

[90th Light]

As I have already stated, this cap has been shown in a book on the subject (pages 12 & 13). It is stated to be a Signal yellow soutache typical of caps brought by UK veterans

The soutache was carefully checked when it got here, for this reason. Some collectors in New Zealand wanted to double check that the soutache was in fact original to the cap and not carefully replaced.


At the time the cap was purchased, it was realised/ known that the eagle had been reapplied. Initially it was assumed that the eagle was a later type not found on a 1941 dated cap. It was also noted that a second model tropical cockade was factory machine sewn on. I am pleased to say that we have also confirmed the eagle and cockade are the original, correct type used in the manufacture of this cap. This point has been confirmed beyond doubt. We can only speculate why the eagle has been resewn ?????, POW ?, UK veteran removed and stored ?, moved higher to add a Calvary tradition badge ?, Collector got the exact/ correct eagle with matching wear for the condition of the cap to replace a missing eagle ? Who will ever know for sure ?

Either way given the soutache which is 101% factory sewn to the cap and the cockade, this is a very, very rare cap,

Chris

[NZMark]

Thanks for posting this one Chris,
A pleasure to handle this one - and no doubt about the soutache in hand.
Mark
NZ

[90th Light]

This matter of Recon yellow verses signal yellow in regard to tropical shoulder straps is also discussed in this thread;

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=1#post7904050

Chris

[90th Light]

Thanks for posting this one Chris,
A pleasure to handle this one - and no doubt about the soutache in hand.
Mark
NZ

Thank you Mark,

your input, experience and in-depth study, stitch by stitch at the time was really appreciated. As were the other collectors who shared their collections on this one

Chris

[Tim O'Keefe]

Great stuff Chris, no doubt about the threadstarter it's recon

Now throw this one into the mix...

It appears there are more Caps than straps with gold piping.

[90th Light]

Great stuff Chris, no doubt about the threadstarter it's recon

Now throw this one into the mix...

It appears there are more Caps than straps with gold piping.

I would need more and improved images of that cap Tim, to be able to offer a reasoned opinion. Based on what you do show, I feel doubts. I thought Mark had already posted that one for you ?

As far as the straps go, there are probably more straps than caps but both are very, very rare. However, your strap is the only one known at this stage for a Feldwebel with one pip. Other tropical Recon yellow straps for other ranks EM/NCO are known, but not many,

Chris

[90th Light]

Just realised that I wrote "Calvary" instead of Cavalry. Crap spelling and trying to get too much done in one day. But the time was right to share this find and it has been a good day, all objectives achieved.

Seeing as we were discussing Calvary tradition badges and the spacing between the eagle and the cockade. I may as well add a couple more images to add to the speculation as to why the eagle was moved a bit higher up the cap ????

Makes you wonder and the AA3 badge was found in a tin of badges in a shop in New Zealand. I have been lucky enough to get more than one of these badges out here

Chris

[90th Light]

May be it looks better if the cavalry tradition badges sits a bit lower when compared to the photos.

Speculation of course but fun/ interesting never-the-less with period items that were really there,

Chris

[OSS]

Though an aside, what color soutache do you suppose the soldiers (with the traditions devices) in your supporting photographs are wearing? It is certainly too dark for Geldgelb, what other branch would be entitled to wear the "Schwedter Adler"?

[pauke]

eagle

Looks like a group of AA 33-ers.

[OSS]

I used this photograph of two continental side caps in the other thread to illustrate that some signals soutaches had a slightly goldish hue, unlike the stack of identical pale yellow piped shoulder straps that was used to contrast the supposed "Goldgelb" example.