German Wehrmacht/SS M43 Green wool Field Cap(Einheitsmütze)
The M43 field cap or "Einheitsmütze" was a cap used by the German Wehrmacht and SS, during World War II. The design of the fieldcap was based on the German Gebirgsj?ger's ski cap, the only differences being the bill was slightly extended and the top panel of the hat had a smaller circumference, giving it slightly sloped in sides. This design and its successors that are still in use today are the German counterparts to the American patrol cap or utility cover.
There are several variants of the M 43 field cap, starting with the Gebirgsj?ger's ski cap. This was the first in the family of hats, and was recognized by a high peak, a tear-drop shaped top, a short bill, and a small skirt that folds down to protect the ears in cold. All Bergmützen had a small Edelweiss or a grouping of J?ger leaves, depending on the unit. The ski cap was generally made of Field Grey or Field Blue wool, depending on whether it was used by the Heer, SS, or the Luftwaffe.
The precursor to the German Bergmutze was a service cap first issued to Austrian Imperial-Royal Mountain Troops in 1906. During World War I, this cap was made of Hechtgrau (pike grey) wool and had a turn-down brim to cover the wearer's ears in cold weather. German mountain troops, who initially wore a grey peakless forage cap resembling a sailor cap, adopted the Bergmutze in 1915 as a gesture of solidarity with their Austrian allies. Both the German and Austrian Bergmutzen bore Edelweiss insignia, the mark of an experienced mountain climber, but, unlike the leather peaks of the Austrian caps, the peak of the German cap was covered with slate grey wool.