GERMAN WWII AFRIKA KORPS 1st PATT M40 CAP.

The very desirable M.40 visored field cap, the first issue cap for the arrival of the Afrika Korps in North Africa. This is a small size cap that has seen service wear. It was originally fitted with an apple green soutache, which has been removed, in line with the 1943 regulations. Although the cap is not dated the maker's mark is very faint, observing the underlying different colour mustard material under the cap we can date this cap to either 1940 or 41. This different colour material is quite often seen on the early dated tunics. The maker is scarce, 'Erich Bergmann', all the red lining is complete, there is obvious sweat wear mainly in the forehead area, there are minor rust stains to the crown and the paint to three of the four zinc air vent eyelets is missing and the eyelets being zinc have oxidised slightly. The insignia is all untouched, the eagle being the blue on brown Bevo style, the cockade being the correct 1st pattern more of a heavy weave than standard Bevo, the cockade is machine sewn, the eagle is applied in the correct form of the top half of the eagle being machine sewn, the eagle is then folded down and the remainder of the eagle hand stitched. A rare and desirable cap from a Panzer Grenadier unit.

Code: 76920