Original WWII German Luftwaffe (Air Force) FUR & LEATHER WINTER CAP. (Pelzmütze) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified

SOLD

Original WWII German Luftwaffe (Air Force) FUR & LEATHER WINTER CAP. (Pelzmütze) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified. 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 but also snow camouflage 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. In April 1942 Hitler approved the chosen design, and the first models were issued in the autumn of that year, included assorted winter fur caps. The fur caps were a standard issue item and were distributed to all EM/NCO’s for the winter season, (September 15TH to April 15TH), with other winter garments and were to be returned to the units storage depot at the end of the season for storage, repair and cleaning to be reissued the following September. Originally Officers and senior NCO’s responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and headgear were required to purchase the new winter garments until regulations of December 1942 extended the issue winter clothing to all ranks in the colder theatres of operation. Although there was no official standard model of the fur cap the most commonly encountered type followed the basic pattern of the Mountain and M43 caps with fold down back and side panels designed to protect the wearers ears and neck. Nice quality, multi-panel, patch work, whitened sheep skin construction winter cap with the natural hide to the exterior and the white sheep’s wool to the interior. The cap features fold down side and back panels with the panels held in position at the top of the cap by a thread loop and a corresponding button (button is missing). When the side and back panels are in the upright position the sheep’s wool is visible to the exterior. The back and side panels were designed to be folded down to protect the wearer’s ears and neck and the panels could be secured with the fabric loop and button closed under the wearer’s chin as required. The fold down side panels each have a small circular cut-out with a corresponding, overlapping, horizontal, “U” shaped closure panel with a single, brown painted, sheet metal “Prym”, closure snap to each. The side panels also have an additional male snap enabling the horizontal, “U” shaped closure panels to be secured in the open position as required. Insignia is original to the cap and consists of the Luftwaffe cloth eagle and national cockaide. It does have some old glue repair (see photos).  Nice example showing the expected minor age and wear overall good  but repaired condition (priced accordingly) . Gettysburg Museum Certified (COA) provided. 100% Guaranteed to be authentic brought home by a U.S. Veteran. Sold for historic purposes only. See our other pieces on our web site. Also note when browsing our web site there are several pages of items, at the bottom of the list look for other page numbers. Great RARE artifact! don’t miss it!  GOOD BUT WORN CONDITION!