The German Gebirgsjäger (mountain riflemen) found their origins in the "Alpenkorps" of both the Bavarian Army and the Austrian Army of the Great War, which had been successfully deployed against their Italian counterparts, the "Alpini", to defend vital mountain passes. The German Gebirgsjägers of WW2 were characterized by the Edelweiss insignia worn on their caps and uniforms; the flower only grows high in the Alps above the treeline, and it was a rite of passage for any prospective Gebirgsjäger to hike up and pluck an edelweiss. German mountain troops fought in almost every campaign of WW2, from the invasion of Poland in 1939, to seizing footholds in Norway in 1940, the battle of Crete in 1941, and the Caucasus campaign of 1942. They then played a vital role in the Italian Campaign, from Monte Cassino in 1944 to holding the Gothic Line until 1945. This Modern Reproduction German Army WW2 Gebirgsjäger Mountain Ski Trooper Edelweiss Badged Custom Made Splinter Camo M-43 Field Cap is in very good condition, with a spot of hardened grayish soiling at the front right crown, some wrinkling, drying, darkening, and surface cracking along the edge of the leather front bill, some light fading to the crown and ear flaps, some "browning" to the cotton lining, some brownish spot soiling at the front right crown lining, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the cap is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it's a MODERN REPRODUCTION, custom made within the last 20 years using a period Swiss splinter camouflage shelter half, with a unique brown leather front bill that is modeled after the Swedish winter hat of the late 1930s, and was crafted in the classic M-43 style. It boasts a replica bevo woven spread wing eagle and national cockade Heer trapezoidal insignia machine sewn at the upper middle front crown, sports a replica Gebirgsjäger edelweiss zinc badge stitched at the left ear flap, and features two wooden buttons connecting the ear flaps at the lower middle front crown. It retains a great amount of the original Swiss splinter camouflage colors, bears a metal ventilation grommet at each side crown, and exhibits a white cotton twill lining. It's approximately a Size 56 (US Size 7), and is a fine example of a Modern Reproduction German Army WW2 Gebirgsjäger Mountain Ski Trooper Edelweiss Badged Custom Made Splinter Camo M-43 Field Cap.
Uniforms