{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-hj-flak-helper-m43-feldmutze-field-cap-in-size-58-dated-1947","title":"Original German WWII HJ Flak Helper M43 Feldmütze Field Cap in size 58 - dated 1944","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is lovely service used German WWII H J National Youth Organization M43 \u003cem\u003eFeldmütze\u003c\/em\u003e (Field Cap), marked with Size 58 and dated 1944. Sometimes called a \u003cem\u003eSkimütze\u003c\/em\u003e (Ski Cap), these were the standard headgear for H J members who were attached to the Luftwaffe as auxiliaries, and who manned anti-aircraft Flak cannons in the defense of the Third Reich as the war drew to a close. It is constructed of Luftwaffe \u003cem\u003efliegerblau \u003c\/em\u003e(flyer's blue) worsted wool gabardine cloth, and has fold-down panels with rounded scallops to the front and forward sides, covering the entire neck on the sides and rear when in use. When not in use, the panels are raised with their ends resting upon the visor, being joined together by a single pebbled aluminum button, which is painted Luftwaffe blue. The visor is reinforced with cardboard, and covered in matching gabardine cloth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSewn in place in the front of the cap is a BeVo embroidered rhomboid diamond shaped HJ emblem, which consists of a black mobile swas inside a white square diamond which is surrounded by alternating white and red quadrants and is all surrounded by a small white border. This patch is original to the cap and is machine sewn only to the outer fabric. It does show some wear to the fabric, particularly noticeable on the red portions of the insignia. There is not any major mothing or damage to the exterior of the cap, but it definitely shows overall wear to the exterior, with some minor discoloration. The visor does not have any cracks or major bends, but is definitely a bit warped in areas, probably due to moisture exposure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interior of the cap is lined with gray blue rayon, which is in very good service used condition, showing staining and wear, particularly around the bottom where it would have been in contact with the forehead. There is a faded RBNr. stamp on the crown, which looks to read \u003cstrong\u003e0 \/ 2009 \/ 0004\u003c\/strong\u003e, and below this is \u003cstrong\u003e58\u003c\/strong\u003e, and to the right a faint \u003cstrong\u003e44\u003c\/strong\u003e. These are inside a rectangle, the usual way markings are on these caps, and there is the number \u003cstrong\u003e730 - -\u003c\/strong\u003e above.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall, this is a great looking service used HJ M43 field cap!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHJ believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ National Youth Organization was formed officially in 1935, and with the exception of NSDAP ideology indoctrination was very similar to the Boy Scouts. Beginning at about the age of ten years, both boys (\u003cem\u003ejugend\u003c\/em\u003e) and girls (\u003cem\u003eBund Deutscher Mädel\u003c\/em\u003e) were enlisted in the Party-run organization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe M43 \u003cem\u003eFeldmütze\u003c\/em\u003e (Field Cap) is a variety of \"Ski Cap\" and was based on the \u003cem\u003eBergmütze\u003c\/em\u003e (Mountain Hat) used by Austrian and German \u003cem\u003eGebirgsjäger\u003c\/em\u003e (Mountain Troops) during WWI. Germany had adopted it in 1915, and after the war it spread throughout the military.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe skirt that surrounds the cap is made in the same wool as the cap, and can be folded down over the ears, though this was rarely done outside of the Mountain troops, which had a double-thickness skirt. The skirt has a small dip in the front quarter with a divide secured by one aluminum button which is covered by an embroidered cockade. The small section in the front quarter was built shorter to show the insignia, and cover the wearer's chin or mouth, without disturbing breathing by covering the nose. There were also later M43 caps, such as those used by the DAK, that omitted the skirt entirely, as it had little use in the desert heat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42711160881221,"sku":"ONSV25SSOS130","price":595.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25SSOS130__07.jpg?v=1746264777","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-hj-flak-helper-m43-feldmutze-field-cap-in-size-58-dated-1947","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}