Hello! Was curious as to what GMGA's would have been issued the Schneeschuhmützen (aka Bergmütze). I recently won this photo of what I believe to be a soldier from a GMGA with a single button Bergmütze. There are other photos of various GMGA's wearing them. Was curious if there is any information about this. Thanks!
GMGA and Bergmützen?
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SCHUPO
Well-known member
An interesting question concerning these caps that I too have been looking at. Can you tell if the visor is leather or cloth or something else? The shape of your pictured cap reminds me of Austro-Hungarian caps but that is just a passing thought. It looks like the cockade worn on the peak might be the national red/white/black colors but you have the photo in hand and perhaps better interpret colors.
At any rate I have been looking at my later Bergmutzen caps dated from 1930 to 1945 to sort them out and it seems the ear flaps with one button was manufactured concurrently with the two button front. I have seen these called: ski caps, mountain caps, Model 1943 caps and simply field caps or house caps. See Beaver & Shea "The collector's guide to the distinctive cloth headgear of the Allgemeine and Waffen-SS" for a good discussion of these caps.
I hope this helps.
At any rate I have been looking at my later Bergmutzen caps dated from 1930 to 1945 to sort them out and it seems the ear flaps with one button was manufactured concurrently with the two button front. I have seen these called: ski caps, mountain caps, Model 1943 caps and simply field caps or house caps. See Beaver & Shea "The collector's guide to the distinctive cloth headgear of the Allgemeine and Waffen-SS" for a good discussion of these caps.
I hope this helps.
The visor appears to be Feldgrau Vulcanfiber or leather. Which would be appropriate for the Bavarian/Prussian/Baden regulations. Wool visors was for Württembergers. The photo should be here next week, and I can hopefully do a better scan. As for the cockade, it could possibly be the Reich cockade. Drakegoodman on Flickr has a good photo of GMGA 217 in the Vosges sector and their caps appear to have the Reich on the front while the State cockade on the side. Typically the issued style Bergmützen had 2 button closures, and the single button closures tend to show up on fancier private purchased versions.
CLOVIS 57
Well-known member
In the Vosges, this cap, laced boots, with puttees was exclusive to the Bavarian and Württemberg ski and mountain battalion and Alpenkorp.
In the photo above, I see a white spot on the left side of the soldier's cap (on the right in the photo). It could be a cockade, but also the silver edelweiss.
The belt buckle, the buttons, and perhaps the epaulettes could point to one or the other Land.
s.
For your information, the GMGA sent to the Balkans and Macedonia had a felt helmet "for hot countries (in summer) and cold countries (in winter).
The Austrian skier's cap was slightly taller and pointed.
In the photo above, I see a white spot on the left side of the soldier's cap (on the right in the photo). It could be a cockade, but also the silver edelweiss.
The belt buckle, the buttons, and perhaps the epaulettes could point to one or the other Land.
s.
For your information, the GMGA sent to the Balkans and Macedonia had a felt helmet "for hot countries (in summer) and cold countries (in winter).
The Austrian skier's cap was slightly taller and pointed.
Thank you for the reply, but there is evidence of GMGA in the Vosges sector using them too. Which is why I am curious as to if there was a period where some of these units got them for a short period. I am aware of the other units that were issued this type of cap (WGB, various GaBa, Jäg.Regt 3). I am just curious why some GMGA have them, others don't
