Original Item: Only One Available. After the catastrophic winter of 1941-42 on the Eastern Front, the German military rapidly designed improved cold weather clothing. By the Fall of 1942, a variety of winter fur lined caps (Pelzmütze or Winterfellmütze) had been introduced. There were no standardized “model numbers”, but this version is a commonly encountered pattern. It has a fieldgray wool body, which is lined with cotton fabric, and a visor and fold down ear flaps backed with rabbit fur.
The visor is tack stitched open and is rarely seen in the “down” position. Many soldiers pinned or sewed insignia to it as is seen here. Most often encountered are the metal visor cap badges – the Heer Reichsadler Eagle (as seen on this example) or the SS skull. The flaps are usually held in the “up” (open) position by a single button, however there is no button on this example. The flaps can be tied under the wearer’s chin via cloth ties, which currently are tied together. They look to have partly torn away from the ear flaps, and one side has field repair.
This fine example is offered in very good condition with over 90% of the fur intact, and the interior cotton lining is clean and undamaged. The interior lining is ink stamped with size 56 centimeters (US 7 1/4), over a date of K 43 (1943) in a box.
These have become very hard to find on the market today and even decent reproductions sell for hundreds of dollars. Ready to display!