Original German WWII Luftwaffe Fur-Lined Sheepskin Winter Parka with 56cm Pelzmütze M43 Winter Cap Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. The severe cold encountered on the Russian front in the winter of 1941-42 found the Germans completely unprepared not only in heat retaining cold weather garments. This resulted in numerous, hastily improvised and makeshift heat retaining and snow camouflage items being utilized including everything from civilian winter clothing to white bed sheets. After the winter of 1941/42 the Oberkommando des Wehrmacht, (High Command of the Armed Forces), recognized the need for heavier winter clothing and testing began in the spring of 1942 to develop suitable garments.

This is one of the solutions reached, a heavy Sheepskin Leather parka, combined with a winter fur cap, which also may be made from sheepskin. The parka definitely looks to be factory made, and is made from sheepskin leather with fur / fleece still attached. There are no factory labels or markings we were able to see on the interior, however the exterior has a larger roman numeral II on the right chest near the closure, which we assume is a size marking. There are no pockets on the interior or exterior, and there is a hanging loop on the interior neck area. There is no hood on this example, as with the cap it would not need one. Four “dowel and loop” fasteners secure the front of the parka, with a button and strap for the collar.

The cap is in very good service used condition, and has a canvas label on the inside front, which gives the size as 56, along with some other markings. The cap conforms well to the M43 Luftwaffe type, and still has a button at the end of one flap, which meets the thread loop on the other. Overall it definitely does show staining from wear and use, and there is no Luftwaffe eagle on the front of the cap, and it does not look like it ever have one. The cap seems to have used several small panels combined with larger ones, so we suspect it was made later in the war, when supplies were dwindling.

A great Luftwaffe winter set, ready to display, or maybe even wear!

Approximate Measurements:
Collar to shoulder: 12″
Shoulder to sleeve: 25”
Shoulder to shoulder: 21”
Chest width: 26″
Waist width: 30″
Hip width: 30″
Front length: 31″