Organisation Todt Officer M43 Cap
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 82.GOR.01.002.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
Of multi-piece construction, fabricated from thick olive green wool, with fold-down panels with squared scallops to the front and forward sides, covering the entire neck on the sides and rear when in use. The crown of the cap, as well as the frontal scallops are trimmed with silver aluminum bullion embroidered piping. Towards the front, in the place of buttons that hold the front panels together, is a single metal tri-colour cockade. Directly above it is a Wehrmacht cap eagle, constructed of silver aluminum bullion wires in the form of a standard eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The visor at the front is reinforced with cardboard, and is covered in matching olive green wool. The interior of the cap is lined with olive green wool, as well as brown wool on the crown with a ribbed design. The interior also features a thick dark brown leather sweatband, that is sewn to the cap via black threading - the stitching appears to have been period repaired, with a rip in the leather at the front. It is unmarked, and measures 160 mm (w) x 270 mm (h). A worn example, with a tear on the outside panel and in the interior leather sweatband, in overall better than fine condition.
Organisation Todt, abbreviated OT, was a paramilitary construction organisation named after its founder, Fritz Todt. It was founded in 1938 and became well-known for its construction projects in Germany and German-occupied areas during the war, including the Siegfried Line (Westwall) and the Atlantic Wall. Only a comparatively small number of OT labourers were uniformed and salaried German nationals, while large numbers during the war years were made up of forced labourers, including Jews and other “undesirables”, as well as prisoners of war.
Members of OT were to wear uniforms distinct from other Third Reich paramilitary organisations. However, due to problems with availability, they de facto often wore a mixture of different uniform patterns, including uniform parts from other organisations.
The headgear worn by members of OT is identical to the M43 caps and field caps of the German Army, except in brown colour.
The M43 cap was also known as the Einheitsfeldmütze (standard field cap). The cut is the same as that of the “Bergmütze” (mountain cap), albeit with a longer visor, and it has the same design for flaps, which are affixed by two buttons at the front and could be lowered to cover the face in the form of a balaclava.
On occasion this cap will have ventilations holes, but most were produced without any due to easier fabrication.
Enlisted men and NCOs (Non-Commissioned Officers) wore no piping on their caps. Piping was silver-coloured for OT Führer and OT Stabsführer, and gold-coloured for Higher OT Leaders.
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