GERMAN WWII AFRIKAKORPS CHAPLAINS M.40 VISORED FIELD CAP

An ultra-rare piece of headdress from North Africa, being a 1st pattern M.40 visor cap in a good size of 57, manufactured by ‘Alfred Valet, Mutzenfabrik Stuttgart- Bad Cannstatt’, clearly dated ‘1942’, heavily stamped ‘57’. The olive colour of the cap and the form of it when viewed from the side indicate that the style of the cap is changing in readiness for the introduction of the 2nd model cap, which appeared in early 43. This is a factory-produced officers' cap with a silver twisted cord to the crown and the front scallop of the cap. Chaplains Waffenfarbe, nice Bevo woven eagle with a 2nd pattern cockade factory fitted, with a Chaplains Cross fitted between the eagle and the cockade, a clear indication that the transition from a 1st pattern to the 2nd pattern is starting with an item such as this, as the manufacturers have used a 1st pattern blue on tan eagle and a 2nd pattern cockade. Virtually unworn condition.

Ref; 95571