GERMAN WWII AFRIKA KORPS PANZER OFFICER'S M40 CAP.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/7/2018

Of all the campaigns during the European Conflict of the Second World War, one of the most famous is the one in the North African Desert. The conflict in North Africa initially pitted the German Expeditionary Force, known as "The Afrika Korps", against the British Commonwealth. The Afrika Korps was originally sent to North Afrika to aid the nearly defeated Italian Army. The Afrika Korps was commanded by one of the war's, even the world's, most famous generals Erwin Rommel , "The Desert Fox". Erwin Rommel's deployment of the Panzers, as well as his tactical genius, enabled his army to outmaneuver and push back a numerically superior British force, nearly to the brink of annihilation. The role of the Panzers during the Afrika Campaign has captured both the fascination and admiration of historians and collectors alike. The overall condition of the Afrika Korps Panzer Officer's M40 Cap is excellent. The cap is constructed using a light tan cotton twill, and shows some light soiling from use as well as light fading throughout. The cap is piped with a woven silver piping, signifying the soldier is a commissioned officer. The front of the cap has a tan BEVO national eagle, which is attached by a method collectors refer to as "zip & flip". The top of the eagle insignia was laid face down and sewn along the upper length near the head and upper wings, the insignia was then flipped downward and the remaining edges were finished with machine sewing as well. The eagle has some very slight soiling but the condition itself is near mint. Below the eagle, is a BEVO cockade which is also machine sewn to the cap on all four sides. The cockade shows some soiling and discoloration. Between the eagle and cockade, is the pink colored Russian-braid soutache signifying "Panzer" units. The soutache is tucked between the visors bill and cap which then runs above the cockade to the other side where it was again tucked between the bill and cap. The soutache is attached by machine sewing down the center of the braid, and reinforced with the stitching that was used to secure the bill to the upper cap, another feature looked for when authenticating. Two tan painted zinc air vents are crimped into place on each side of the cap. The cap's bill is made of a cotton twill wrapped pressed paper which is machine sewn to the upper cap. The interior of the cap is lined with a lightweight dark red lining. The lining shows some slight staining and light spots, as well as a small rip on the top area. There is one visible size stamp of "60" in black ink. Afrika Korps M40 Caps are difficult to find on the market today, even more so are those with colored soutaches. Finding an M40 Cap with the most desired color soutache, pink, for Panzer is what many collectors dream of.