Original German WWII Early Pattern Heer Army Officer Feldmütze Field Cap with Bullion Insignia – Bergmütze Style Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The German Feldmütze (Field Cap) was originally used in late WWI, and was a variety of unpeaked garrison cap. After the war, it was replaced by a variety of “Ski Cap” that was based on the Bergmütze (Mountain Hat) used by Austrian and German Gebirgsjäger (Mountain Troops) during WWI. Germany had adopted it for Mountain Troops 1915, and after the war it spread throughout the military.

One of the distinguishing features of the Bergmütze pattern is the skirt that surrounds the cap, which can be folded down over the ears. However this was rarely done outside of the Mountain troops, which had a double-thickness skirt. The skirt has a small dip in the front quarter with a divide secured by two small pebbled buttons in order to get the skirt around the bill. The small section in the front quarter was built shorter to show the insignia, and cover the wearer’s chin or mouth, without disturbing breathing by covering the nose.

Many variants appeared, eventually arriving at the M43 Field or Unit cap. This had a thinner “skirt” that was only a single layer, and did not have the leather sweatband of the heavier Bergmütze. There were also later M43 caps, such as those used by the DAK, that omitted the skirt entirely, as it had little use in the desert heat.

This fine early war example of a German Heer Army field cap however still conforms to the original Bergmütze pattern. It has a double thickness lined “skirt” with loops, and also has a nice leather sweatband inside. It is definitely for an officer, as it has the silver piping around the wide top.  The Heer Reichsadler (National Eagle) and Tri-color cockade are made of hand-embroidered bullion, so this is definitely an early upmarket version. It is made of the correct feldgrau (Field gray) wool, and really looks great.

Condition is very good, though it definitely shows some light service wear. There is some staining on the leather sweatband, and part of the stitching on the edge of the visor is popped, so you can actually see the stiffener. The cap does have some mothing in areas, sometimes just in the nap, and other times all the way through, as shown in the pictures.

This is a great chance to pick up a German Army Officer Bergmütze style field cap. In very good condition and ready to display!