{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-heer-army-deutsches-afrika-korps-dak-m41-tropical-field-cap-size-58","title":"Original German WWII Deutsches Afrika Korps DAK 1941 Dated M41 Tropical Field Cap by Friedrich Schönberger - Size 58","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, tropical uniforms headgear and equipment were quickly developed and issued in time for DAK, \u003cem\u003eDeutsches Afrika Korps\u003c\/em\u003e, (German Africa Corps), personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M41 \u003cem\u003eTropeneinheitsfeldmütze\u003c\/em\u003e (tropical field cap) was introduced in early 1941 and design of the cap was loosely based on the Mountain Troopers, \u003cem\u003eBergmütze\u003c\/em\u003e with minor variations. Also called the \u003cem\u003eAfrikamütze\u003c\/em\u003e (Africa Cap), the design utilized lightweight cotton instead of wool, and while the \"scalloped\" flap at the bottom was left, it is only ornamental, and is not designed to fold down at all. The design was utilized by most of the armed forces, with variations in each branch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOfficer ranks caps were distinguished from EM\/NCO’s with silver piping for the ranks of Lieutenant to Oberst and gilt piping for the ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall while EM\/NCO’s ranks caps were not piped. The different branches of service within the army were allocated a particular identifying \u003cem\u003ewaffenfarbe\u003c\/em\u003e, (Branch of Service Color), and originally the M41 tropical field caps had a branch of service soutache applied to the front consisting of an inverted \"V\" encompassing the national tri-color cockade but regulations of July 10TH 1942 abolished the use of the soutache and instructed it to be removed from the caps, although the directive was not strictly adhered to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis very good honest used example is correct in all respects for an M41 Tropical Cap for the Heer Army. It features ribbed olive\/khaki cotton twill construction, dual-ply, stitched down side and back panels with a gently scalloped downward slope to the front center. The cap has two steel ventilation grommets to each side positioned just below the outer edge of the crown seam. The top center seam is correctly stitched right through the interior liner for added strength. The front center of the cap has a machine woven national eagle in light gray blue threads on a cut-out, woven tan base.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe front center of the dual-ply, downward sloping scalloped panel has a machine woven national tri-color cockade on a woven olive brown diamond shaped base. Both the eagle and the cockade are hand-stitched to the cap, and only to the outer layer, as is correct. The cap has a cotton twill covered, forward visor with an internal cardboard stiffener. The visor has a subtly raised lip and row of reinforcement stitching to the bottom of the forward edge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interior of the cap is fully lined in soft lightweight red cotton open weave fabric without a sweatband, which shows wear and staining from use. There are some holes and stitch repairs present, consistent with long service. The top of the lining is marked with size 58, and the right side has a somewhat faint maker marking still fully legible:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFriedrich Schönberger\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrankfurt am Main\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEakenheimerlandstr. 60s\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1941\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition is very good, showing wear and staining from service overall, including some areas of wear through on the edge of the visor. The stitching around the insignia has pulled out a bit, and the cap really has a great look. There is some oxidation on the ventilation grommets as well, which have lost their original zinc plating. The front visor is in very good shape, without any cracks or major bends, however it does show some waviness due the cardboard being exposed to moisture, most likely from sweat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an appealing, honestly worn 1941-dated M41 tropical field cap that retains its original eagle and national cockade, along with a fully legible Friedrich Schönberger maker marking and size stamp. The staining, period stitch repairs, worn visor edge, oxidized ventilation grommets, and moisture-related waviness are all consistent with extended service use and give the cap considerable character. Despite this wear, the cap remains complete and well preserved overall, making it a particularly attractive example of early German tropical headgear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (German: \u003cem\u003eDeutsches Afrikakorps\u003c\/em\u003e, DAK was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The term \"Afrika Korps\" is pseudo-German (so-called \"cod-German\"), deriving from an incomplete German title. The German term referred solely to the initial formation, the \u003cem\u003eDeutsches Afrikakorps\u003c\/em\u003e (DAK), which formed part of the Axis command of the German and Italian forces in North Africa. The name stuck, with both news media and Allied soldiers, as the name for all subsequent German units in North Africa. The unit is known for having been commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45366168387653,"sku":"ONJR26JYAS057","price":1995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/DD2E838D-02F0-44CE-BDA4-9D59F325FD11.jpg?v=1784302946","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-heer-army-deutsches-afrika-korps-dak-m41-tropical-field-cap-size-58","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}