Original German WWII Italian Made Gebirgsjäger Mountain Troop M43 Bergmütze Field Cap with Edelweiss Badge 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.

This is a very nice lightly used example of a German Gebirgsjäger Bergmütze (Mountain Trooper Cap), which was made in Italy for German forces. There were a lot of mountains in Northern Italy, and German forces stationed there definitely needed caps. It was easier to source them from Italian makers due to logistical reasons.

The cap is constructed of Heer Feldgrau (Field Gray) wool, and has the correct “fold down” skirt for colder weather. It features a two magnetic pebbled buttons button to the front, securing the skirt, though there are no loops on the underside, as there would be on a German M43 mountain cap. The fabric is relatively thick for use by a mountain trooper.

The peak of the cap has a very nice combined Eagle and cockade BEVO insignia on the front. There is a metal Edelweiß badge stitched in place on the left flap, which has is magnetic in the center only. This flower, found in the mountains of Southern Germany and Austria, is the symbol used by Gebirgsjäger mountain troops.

The interior of cap is field gray HBT fabric, and we estimate the size to be about 57-58. This lining style is common with Italian made caps. There is just a bit of staining around the interior, indicating light use. The visor is still in good condition, though the internal stiffener has some ripples and what feels like a break on the inside. The stiffener in these caps is made from pressed paper, so they easily deform with use and especially moisture.

A great example of a classic hat worn by German Army Mountain Troopers in WWII, made by their ally Italy. Very impressive and ready to display!

Gebirgsjäger material is among the most popular of all German WWII items. They were the light infantry part of the alpine or mountain troops (Gebirgstruppe) of Germany and Austria. The word Jäger (meaning “hunter” or “huntsman”) is a characteristic term used for light-infantry or light-infantryman in German-speaking military context.

The mountain infantry of Austria have their roots in the three Landesschützen regiments of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The mountain infantry of Germany carry on certain traditions of the Alpenkorps (Alpine corps) of World War I. Both countries’ mountain infantry share the Edelweiß insignia. It was established in 1907 as a symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Landesschützen regiments by Emperor Franz Joseph I. These troops wore their edelweiss on the collar of their uniforms. When the Alpenkorps came to aid the Landesschützen in defending Austria-Hungary’s southern frontier against the Italian attack in May 1915, the grateful Landesschützen honored the men of the Alpenkorps by awarding them their own insignia: the edelweiss. Together with the Fallschirmjäger (Paratroopers) they are perceived as the elite infantry units of the German Army.