M43 field cap 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 Gebirgsjäger ' 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 . Variants . There are several variants of the M 43 field cap , starting with the Gebirgsjäger ' 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 Jäger 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 . Gebirgsjäger ' s . Gebirgsjäger ' s Ski Cap . The sides of the bergmütze stand almost straight up , due to the wide top sewn onto the cap . The skirt that surrounds the cap is made in the same wool as the cap , and is double layered in the rear 3 / 4ths of the skirt , enabling it to be folded down over the ears . The skirt has a small dip in the front 1 / 4 with a divide secured by two small buttons in order to get the skirt around the bill . The small section in the front quarter was built shorter to show the insignia , and cover the wearer ' s chin or mouth , without disturbing breathing by covering the nose . Summer Ski Cap . A summer version of the cap was issued to all gebirgs that was almost identical to the standard version with some exceptions . It was made of field grey poplin , and the skirt was sewn in place , creating a " fake fold . " Winter Ski Cap . A winter version of this cap was produced in either white poplin or white wool , depending on wearer ' s choice or unit . The white poplin version was deliberately over sized to fit over the standard issue cap . It generally did not have any fold or skirt at all . The White wool version was to be worn in lieu of the standard version , thus it was identical to the regular cap , with the exception of having bare aluminum buttons instead of painted ones . The M41 Camouflaged Field Cap . Development . In 1940 , development began on a field cap to be worn in place of the normal overseas cap worn by the regular infantry . Within a year , a simple alternative was developed . It was very similar to the Bergmütze , but made in different materials and with a slightly different cut . The result was the M41 camouflaged field cap . There are a few different variants of the M41 , depending on the branch of the Wehrmacht that used it . The Waffen SS Variant . The SS had reversible M41s made of the same reversible poplin found in their smocks and Zeltbahns . Many were very simple , with no insignia , no fold , and a small sweatband on the fall side of the cap . The Hat had a smaller top panel than the Bergmutze , giving it a contoured look . These were produced with two small eyelets on either side of the cap for ventilation . The visor on the cap was extended from the Bergmutze . Caps were made mainly in Oak leaf , Blurred edge , Plane tree , and Palm patterns . Contrary to common belief m43 caps were not made in the pea dot 44 pattern and were rarely made in leibermuster . Insignia was to be placed on the SS M41 , consisting of a neon Green or golden yellow BeVo eagle and skull on the Spring and Fall sides of the cap , respectively . Although , like many things in the SS , this was easier said than done . Many soldaten had the required insignia , but due to supply problems , many had either normal cap insignia or none at all . The SS model was produced from almost all the camouflaged patterns , and after the siege of Italy in 1944 , they were produced in Italian camouflage . The Italian telo mimentico camouflage model was almost exclusive to the 12th SS Hitler youth ( hitlerjugend ) division . Some samples of these caps show a fake fold or officer piping or both , and most of these were private purchase . The Heer Variant . The Heer ( Army ) Pattern M41 was identical to the SS Model , except that it was produced from splinter A pattern and Sumpfmuster camouflage material instead of the SS Patterns . Insignia on the caps was rarely used , but some have been shown to use a Heer Eagle and cockade on a single piece trapezoid . These did not have any folds or skirts at all . The Luftwaffe Variant . The Luftwaffe used caps identical to the Heer type , but including the Splinter B camouflage pattern . The insignia was also made on a trapezoid ( though some officer ' s versions show 2 separate pieces ) but with Luftwaffe Insignia . The M43 Standard Field cap . The M43 Einheitsfeldmütze ( " " standard " field cap " * ) was similar to the M41 camouflaged field cap , but made of wool and the skirt was applied to the cap once again . The M43 had many small changes depending on the branch of the Wehrmacht , but are nearly identical to the untrained eye . The Heer . The Heer model of the M43 was made of field gray wool lined with gray cotton ( there were some color variations ) , with varied insignia styles , including 2 separate insignia pieces mounted one above the other ( eagle on top , cockade below ) , a 1 - piece trapezoid insignia with the national eagle and cockade within the trapezoid , and a T - shaped insignia ( again , with the eagle above the cockade ) . Army M - 43s nearly always have a 2 - button flap . Officer versions ( and enlisted men ' s caps , if privately purchased ) were generally made of better quality wool , and might include a partial , or full sweatband . Officer caps included silver cord piping around the upper seam ( around the top panel ) , as well as around the upper edge of the front portion of the side panels . The Afrikakorps ' soft cover was the M40 visored ( peaked ) cap , similar in shape to the M41 field cap . This extremely popular cap was made of olive - drab cotton twill lined with loosely woven red cotton fabric for protection from the sun and effective heat transfer from the head . It had a long visor , one - piece " false fold " ( rather than functional earflaps ) , and two metal ventilation eyelets on each side . The SS . The SS Model was nearly identical to the Heer model — though there were some flap button variations ( 1 - button , 2 - button ) - - except with SS Insignia applied . The insignia originally was 2 separate pieces : an eagle and a Totenkopf ( Death ' s Head ) ; variations in positioning included caps with the Totenkopf located on the upper front of the cap with the eagle positioned on the left side skirt . Insignia was either embroidered , or machine - woven ( BeVo ) . Near the end of the war , the 2 - piece insignia was replaced with a 1 - piece trapezoid insignia . Variations : Some caps show a cloth eagle with a metal Totenkopf , although the use of metal insignia on the SS M43 was never authorized . Nonetheless , in combat areas , regulations were sometimes overlooked . An embroidered cap version of the SS Gebirgsjäger sleeve patch was sewn to the left side skirt of the M43 , whereas Heer caps always used a sew - on metal Gebirgsjäger insignia . The tropical version of this cap was similar with the exception of no liner and brown on black insignia instead of bone - gray on black . The Luftwaffe . The Luftwaffe ' s model was identical to the SS and the Heer ' s with the exception of being made in field blue wool . The insignia consisted of a machine - embroidered Luftwaffe eagle and cockade on a single piece trapezoid , though some caps show two separate pieces . The tropical version was similar in look , but with a longer bill , lined in red , and 4 - 6 buttons on the back to attach a neck shade , basically a piece of cloth to protect the neck from sunburn . The Panzerkorps . The Panzerkorp ' s M43 field cap was identical to the other branch field caps , with the exception of them being made in black wool . Insignia differed according to the branch of service . Lining was generally black or brown twill or satin . Army Panzer M43s used the Army eagle and cockade either embroidered or machine - woven ; SS Panzer M43s used 2 - piece ( embroidered ) or trapezoid machine - woven insignia ; Luftwaffe Panzer M43s ( Herman Göring division tank personnel , for example , wore black backed Luftwaffe insignia , which could be machine - woven , or machine - embroidered . Silver officer piping on Army caps followed the usual Army pattern . Silver cord piping for SS - officer company and field grade officer caps was replaced by white piping ( Himmler ' s order ) , and was worn only around the top panel ( though some officers opted to ignore regulations and followed the Army pattern ( piping along the front flaps and turn ups , as well ) . Modern use . Mountain units ( Gebirgsjäger ) of the Bundeswehr still wear M43 - style field caps , and are still referred to as " Bergmütze " . The caps have the " fake fold " mentioned above , and are issued in medium grey for enlisted personnel and a lighter grey with silver piping around the brim for officers . The Edelweiss is still on the left side of the cap above the ear , and the cockade and crossed - swords insignia are present on the front above the bill . Most modern " m43 " field caps are of a slightly different cut than the original M43 , with a wider top , but still very similar to the Gebirgsjäger Bergmütze of WWII . Many modern German police units also use a variant of the M43 . Additionally , all other army units wear a simplified version of the M43 cap , without the fold - down ear flaps , in standard Flecktarn camouflage with a BeVo cockade on the front . This is generally worn in the field instead of the Beret . There is also a version of lighter cloth in the desert variant of Flecktarn for use in tropical climates .