WWII German Officers M-41 Tropical Visored Field Cap, Makers Mark, ID'd,dated 1944,- ORIGINAL VERY RARE -

$2,200.00

Description

Original WWII German Army Military Police M-41 Tropical Cap

- Period Correct, ID'd, Two Nice Original Insignia's -

THIS IS A VERY NICE TROPICAL CAP - In great period used condition

This is an all Original WWII German Army Military Police Officers Tropical Field Cap. The outside color is the rare early green cotton twill weave. The insignia's are real nice and sharp, proper size and shape for this cap. The eagle and army cockade are original, and period sewn. The cap shows light wear and slight fading as would be expected from a period piece. The silver officers piping on the outside of the cap is in good condition and period correct. The visor it's self is in great shape, the rounded edge around the visor base is a valid characteristic of an original period visor. The top of the cap is one piece of cotton green twill weave pinched together into a vertical center seam, again making it original and correct. The liner is red cloth with the maker mark stamped inside, with the date "1944" and cap size "57". There is also a white tag, period sewn into the hat, stamped on the tag is the soldiers name, rank and unit, marked - "Lt. d. Feldgend., K. Lauffar" (Lt = Lieutenant, D = Division, Feldgend. = Feldgendarmerie- Military Police), (K. Lauffar = Soldier Name). The red lining is a size 57 as marked and shows moderate wear but no damage. Overall great condition and a very desirable field military police cap.

This is a rare cap, an officers cap, an ID'd Lieutenant, part of the Feldgendarmerie (military Police), there are only a few originals known to exist. This is one of the few originals, this is the Militaria item that all the collectors and museums want. When they come up for sell they go fast. Don't miss out on the rare opportunity to own such a rare military item as this cap. A must for high end collector and museums.

The Feldgendarmerie units were generally given occupation duties in territories directly under the control of the Wehrmacht. Their duties policing the areas behind the front lines ranged from straightforward traffic control and population control to suppression and execution of partisans and the apprehension of enemy stragglers.

When combat units moved forward out of a region, the Feldgendarmerie role would formally end as control was then transferred to occupation authorities under the control of the Nazi Party and SS. But Feldgendarmerie units are known to have assisted the SS in committing war crimes in occupied areas. Author Antony Beevor explores some well-documented cases of their participation in his book Stalingrad. Also, Felgendarmerie units took active part in Jews hunting operations, including in Western Europe.

But by 1943 as the tide of war changed for Nazi Germany, the Feldgendarmerie were given the task to maintain discipline in the Wehrmacht. Many ordinary soldiers deemed to be deserters were summarily executed by Feldgendarmerie units. This earned them the pejorative Kettenhunde (English: chained dogs) after the gorget they wore with their uniforms. The arbitrary and brutal policing of soldiers gave them the other nickname Heldenklauer (English: hero-snatcher) because they screened refugees and hospital transports for potential deserters with orders to kill suspected malingers. Rear-echelon personnel would also be checked for passes that permitted them to be away from the front.

The Feldgendarmerie also administered the Stafbattalion (English: Penal Battalion) which were Wehrmacht punishment units created for soldiers convicted by court martial and sentenced to a deferred execution. During the final days of the war, as the Third Reich crumbled, recruits or soldiers who committed even the slightest infraction were sent to Strafbatallionen.