Hitler struck East in Operation Barbarossa on June 22, 1941, breaking the Non-Aggression Pact and invading Russia. Early on, the German Wehrmacht racked up victories and captured vast amounts of Soviet territory, but the advance ground to a halt in the winter of 1941. Just 20km short of Moscow, the German army bogged down, and was subjected to a brutal winter even by Soviet Russian standards. German tanks and vehicles froze, and the men were unprepared for that bitter cold, having not been issued suitable winter clothing. The Germans vowed never to be so poorly prepared for another winter campaign, and began producing large amounts of winter clothing that was issued on the Eastern Front. That winter gear was worn from before the German high water mark at Stalingrad, and through the retreat all the way back to Berlin. This German WW2 Eastern Front Police Badged Rabbit Fur Winter Cap is in near mint condition, with a very small dark surface chip in the right wing of the insignia at front, and with some scattered hair accumulation evident around the exterior. Otherwise, the cap is in near mint shape, with absolutely no rips, holes, tears, or other damage to the crisp "pine" green feldgrau wool construction. Most interestingly, it boasts the original German Field Police aluminum insignia at front, under a National tricolor cockade, sports thick, warm rabbit fur trim around the front bill and fold down ear/neck flaps, and is dated "1944" in the crisp, original "R.B. Nr. 0/1200/7047" contractor stamping inside. It's marked a Size "58" (US Size 7 1/4), features the original, fully intact black HBT cotton tie tapes on the ear flaps, and exhibits a crisp, clean Field Police bluish gray rayon/cotton blend lining. A beautiful example of a rare, original German WW2 Eastern Front Police Badged Rabbit Fur Winter Cap.
Uniforms