The top ten combat hats of the German Army in World War II. The camouflage styles were very avant - garde at that time

As is well known, the German Army during World War II not only had a well - established combat system and advanced combat concepts, but also used weaponry and equipment that were among the best in the world at that time. Moreover, both the combat uniforms and daily uniforms of the officers and soldiers were very stylish. In this article, we will talk about the top ten combat hats of the German Army during World War II. Among them, the camouflage combat hats were very avant - garde at that time, and even the current - active German military still continues to use them.

Ⅰ.M37 Officer's Combat Soft Cap

German Army officers commanding troops in combat at the front would not wear the peaked cap directly; instead, they would choose the M37 combat soft cap. Its appearance is very similar to the officer's peaked cap, but it is much simpler in design. There is no frame inside the cap, and without any support, the top of the cap is very soft. Meanwhile, the brim is made of cowhide and has a non-reflective surface. This not only makes the cap lighter, but its softness also facilitates combat operations and concealment.

On the World War II battlefields, whether they were junior officers, field-grade officers, or general officers commanding at the front, they generally wore the M37 soft cap. With its comfortable fit and high practicality, it was also deeply loved by German officers and soldiers at that time.

Ⅱ.M42 Officer's Garrison Cap

In addition to the M37 combat soft cap, which resembles a peaked cap, some junior officers often chose to wear the comfortable M42 garrison cap when commanding at the front. Compared to mountain caps and peaked caps, it was more lightweight. For convenience, many officers at that time would directly put the garrison cap over the hood of their overcoats or wear it under a helmet.

The M42 officer's garrison cap was made of woolen fabric, with a texture similar to that of a woolen military overcoat. It also featured ear flaps, which could be let down to keep out the cold in winter conditions. The two buttons could be unfastened when the cap needed to be cleaned.

Ⅲ.M34/35 Garrison Cap

For ordinary German soldiers, in addition to the M35 steel helmet and mountain cap, they could also wear a garrison cap during combat, with the model being the M34/35 garrison cap. This cap was a product from before World War II. At that time, the German military had not yet begun to issue universal mountain caps or field caps, so this garrison cap was the first choice for ordinary soldiers. It was not only worn in combat but also in daily life. Due to the high comfort of the M34/35 garrison cap, many veterans still chose to wear it into battle after the outbreak of World War II.

Ⅳ.M38 Garrison Cap

This garrison cap was finalized around 1938 and was basically issued to both the German Army and Waffen-SS units at that time. Entering the 1940s, the M38 garrison cap was also improved, and versions in different colors were launched for other military branches. For example, the version for armored units was black, the one for mountain troops was khaki, the one for paratrooper units was grass green, and the one for infantry was grayish-green. During World War II, the M38 garrison cap was not only adopted by the combat units of the German military, but also worn by military bands, propaganda departments, military doctors and the like during the same period.

Ⅴ.M41 Tropical Field Cap

For the German Army units fighting in the North African theater, the M41 tropical field cap, specifically designed for desert environments, was issued to blend with the local surroundings. The entire cap was made of the same fabric as the military uniform. The brim had a cardboard insert covered with fabric on the outside. To accentuate the cap's 轮廓,a white piping was specially added around it, which distinguished it from the common mountain caps or field caps of the German Army.

Ⅵ.M42 Mountain Cap

In the early days of World War II, apart from steel helmets, the second option for German Army soldiers to wear in combat was the M34/35 garrison cap. However, entering the 1940s, the German Army began to uniformly issue a new type of combat cap to mountain warfare units, which was the M42 mountain cap. Basically, both soldiers and officers wore it.

The M42 mountain cap was also made of woolen fabric, with external ear flaps to enhance cold resistance in winter. There were two metal buttons at the front, mainly used to fasten the ear flaps. Similarly, unfastening them also facilitated the cleaning of the cap.

Ⅶ.M43 Universal Field Cap

After 1943, based on the previous M42 mountain cap, Germany developed an improved version known as the M43 Universal Field Cap, intended to equip the entire German Army. While the M43 retained the general design of the M42, it featured several modifications in details: the crown of the cap was heightened, the ear flaps were made narrower, and the two front fastening buttons were changed from metal to plastic.

The M43 Universal Field Cap used better materials than the M42. Its main body was made of the same fabric as the military uniform, giving it a smooth appearance and comfortable fit. During World War II, the practicality of the M43 Universal Field Cap was widely recognized by officers and soldiers of the German Army.

Ⅷ.M43 Field Cap (Single-button Version)

As Germany's situation in World War II grew increasingly difficult, both the materials for weapons production and the fabrics for military uniforms were far inferior to those in the early stages of the war. Therefore, to save resources, an improved version of the M43 field cap was introduced in the latter part of 1943. Its main material was switched back to woolen fabric, giving it a slightly coarser texture. Meanwhile, the brim was shortened overall, the ear flaps became narrower, and only a single plastic button was used in the middle. This type of cap remained in service until the end of World War II.

Ⅸ.Panzer Crew Protective Cap

During World War II, Germany attached great importance to the development of armored forces, and tank crews had their own exclusive uniforms and gear. At that time, all crew members of various types of German tanks wore black uniforms and a tank protective cap similar in style to a beret. Although this cap could protect the tank crew's heads, it was too bulky, which hindered the operation of on-board equipment. In addition, its appearance was unattractive. Therefore, by the mid-war period, many German tank crews stopped wearing it, and most soldiers chose the more comfortable and compact garrison cap instead.

Ⅹ.M44 Camouflage Combat Cap

 By the end of World War II, as the German Army began issuing camouflage combat uniforms, the commonly used combat caps also started to appear in camouflage versions. Early ones were modified from the M42 and M43 combat caps, merely made of camouflage fabric with no changes to their design. Later, a new type of combat cap, the M44, was developed. Compared to previous mountain caps, this cap was more streamlined-it eliminated the two front buttons and ear flaps, and its general style was similar to modern mountain caps. Additionally, versions made of different camouflage fabrics were produced for various environments. This combat cap was quite avant-garde during World War II and was deeply loved by German Army officers and soldiers. Even today, the universal combat cap of the German Army still retains this design.

Well, that's all for this article. Among these ten types of World War II German Army combat caps, which one do you think is more stylish and practical? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below. For more content, remember to follow us, and we'll continue to bring you updates in the next issue.