Physical Description

Piping: silver
Soutache: wine red

History

The Visored Field Cap M43 was introduced on June 11, 1943 and became the standard cap for all troops. It was also known as the Einheitsfeldmütze (standard field cap). The cut is the same as that of the “Bergmütze” (mountain cap), albeit with a longer visor, and it has the same design for flaps, which are affixed by two buttons at the front and could be lowered to cover the face in the form of a balaclava.

The cap was made of cotton and cellulose fibre, but in comparison to the earlier field cap model it was made of 70 to 90 percent cellulose fibre, making the material more coarse. On occasion this cap will have ventilations holes, just like the earlier models, but most were produced without any due to easier fabrication.

Enlisted men and NCOs wore no piping on their caps. Piping was silver-coloured for army and administrative officers, and gold-coloured for general ranks and administrative equivalents.
The buttons were grey for enlisted men and NCOs, made of pebbled aluminum for officers, and gilt for generals.

The embroidered insignia, the red, white, and black cockade in a wreath of oak leaves and the national eagle above it, usually came on a one-piece grey-green trapezium. It was made with silver-coloured wire for officer ranks.

The versions will significantly differ in weight depending on climate and local conditions.

The term M(odel) 43 has been given to this piece of headgear by collectors and has no official character.

Tropical clothing was worn by soldiers in northern Africa, and later in southern Europe as well, including Italy, Greece, and southern Russia.

The tropical visored field cap is known as the “Drillichfeldmütze”, to go with the “Drillich” uniform that was worn in warm or tropical weather. It was officially introduced in 1941 and thus can be seen as a precursor to the M43 visored field cap. Officers wore aluminum piping, while generals wore gilt piping. The same colours were used for the insignia of upper ranks. Initially, the cap had a soutache in the branch colour of the wearer (except for generals who wore a gilt soutache). This was discontinued on September 8, 1942.

The cap was made of herringbone twill, initially composed of linen, but quickly changed to rayon or synthetic cotton. The design is simplified, compared to the more elaborate M43 visored field cap. The tropical cap has no front buttons and no ear flaps. However, a seem gives the impression of flaps that are permanently affixed to the sides. The colours vary between olive-green, tan, sand or khaki, and light brown. Due to sun exposure many caps would lose their colour and get bleached to an off-white colour.

Branch colours on German Heer headgear was as follows:
Black was worn by Engineer units.
Black/White was worn by Panzer Engineers.
Copper Brown was worn by Motorcycle personnel.
Light Brown was worn by Signals units until 1936, and by Construction troops.
Carmine was worn by the Führer Staff, General Staff Officers, Staff Officers of the Supreme Command of the Army, and all Veterinary branches.
Bordeaux Red was worn by Smoke & Chemical personnel.
Wine Red was worn by Judicial officials.
Bright Red was worn by Generals, Artillery units, and Ordnance Officers (until 1944).
Rose or Pink was worn by all Armored units (including Panzer troops, and Schützen Brigade Staff).
Orange was worn by Recruiting personnel, Ordnance troops, Ordnance Officers (since 1944), and Field Gendarmerie units.
Bright yellow was worn by Cavalry units, and Light Division Staff.
Lemon yellow was worn by Signal units.
White was worn by Infantry units.
Light Grey was worn by Propaganda personnel.
Grey-Blue was worn by Sonderführer (Specialist Officers).
Violet was worn by Chaplains and Field Bishops.
Cornflower Blue was worn by Medical units, and Supply units.
Bright Blue was worn by Transport troops.
Bright Green was worn by Jäger and Mountain units.
Grass Green was worn by Panzer Grenadier units (Armored Infantry).
Dark Green was worn by Administrative personnel.