GERMAN WWII AFRIKAKORPS SIGNALS M40 FIELD CAP

A superb, medium-sized, bleached to white, M40 visored field cap with lemon yellow soutache (waffenfarbe) for a Signals unit. Stiff, heavyweight, tan coloured material with much age, nicks and tears. The cap holds form when upturned, as we often see with these well-worn examples. The cap has its untouched, first pattern tropical bevo eagle and matching roundel. The yellow Russia braid (soutache) is stitched through the lining, as often seen with these caps, the lower sections of the thread are frayed, pulling back the soutache, revealing the original dark shades of the olive drab material colour from when it's been protected from sun bleaching. The red interior lining shows the expected wear and the usual sweat stains to the front brow area. The soldier has stitched into the lining what appears to be a Z or N, likely an initial for easy identification. The thread used for this matches various field repairs. The maker mark is clear to the rare maker of Erich Bergmann and is dated 1941. Interestingly, this is the 4th example of Erich Bergmann with Yellow, Signals waffenfarbe we have obtained here in the UK, 3 of which have all come from the County of Surrey. One can assume a British unit captured a Signals unit during the Africa Campaign, and all the troops took souvenirs home.

Ref; 96413