The Feldmütze M42 was a German Army overseas field cap introduced on 21 July 1942 specifically for Mannschaften and Unteroffiziere of the Heer as a practical improvement over the earlier Feldmütze M34 and M38 Schiffchen models, primarily to provide better protection against the harsh cold of the Eastern Front. Its design drew inspiration from the Bergmütze worn by Gebirgstruppen but omitted the visor entirely, resulting in a soft, foldable side-cap shape constructed from field-grey wool or wool-rayon blend fabric. Distinctive features included deep fold-down side and rear panels with a scalloped front edge that could be lowered to cover the ears, neck and lower face for warmth and then secured under the chin by means of two pebbled metal buttons positioned vertically at the front; when raised, these panels remained fastened neatly by the same buttons. Small metal ventilation grommets were fitted on each side just below the crown seam to allow air circulation. Insignia typically consisted of a machine-woven national eagle (Wehrmachtsadler) above a black-white-red cockade, often combined on a single T-shaped or trapezoidal BeVo patch stitched to the front, although separate eagle and cockade pieces were also used; Waffenfarbe piping or soutache was generally omitted on enlisted versions in accordance with wartime simplification orders. Interior linings were usually of light grey or grey-green cotton or rayon, frequently stamped with maker codes, size and year of manufacture. Black-wool variants were produced for Panzertruppen crews. Although intended to supersede the earlier Schiffchen, the Feldmütze M42 never completely replaced it in service and continued to be worn alongside both older and newer patterns until the end of the war. By late 1943 the more practical Einheitsfeldmütze M43 with its fixed visor and simplified construction had begun to appear in large numbers, yet the M42 remained a common sight among front-line units of the 170. Infanterie-Division and many other formations of the Heer throughout 1943–45, reflecting the ongoing material shortages and the need for adaptable cold-weather headgear on every front from the steppes of Russia to the Western theatre.
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HEER
Oberfähnrich Ernst Kruse (1915-1944) was born on 1 October 1915 in Egeln near Magdeburg and entered the Schützen-Regiment 3 at the end of 1935, receiving promotion to Feldwebel in March 1938. He participated in the campaigns in Poland, France and the Soviet Union. For personal bravery in the fighting around Machino during the winter of 1941/42 he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 19 January 1942 as Feldwebel in the 7./Schützen-Regiment 3. Serving as Zugführer of the 7. Kompanie in Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3 of the 3. Panzer-Division, he made a decisive contribution to the successful crossing of the Don in summer 1942 and especially distinguished himself on 29 July 1942 when the regiment stormed Proletarskaja; advancing far ahead with his Zug, he enabled the rapid penetration of his Bataillon into the town, for which he received the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 6 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel. On the morning of New Year’s Day 1943, while the regiment held positions along the Kura stream near Aga Batyr, Soviet forces launched a sudden attack through dense mist after the German withdrawal had begun the previous night; enemy tanks overran the foremost defensive line, yet Oberfeldwebel Kruse immediately counter-attacked with his Zug without any artillery support, destroyed several tanks in close combat and sealed off the penetration, thereby preventing a Soviet breakthrough into the rear of the Division and permitting the planned retreat to continue. For this outstanding leadership and bravery he was decorated with the Eichenlaub to the Ritterkreuz as the 245th recipient on 17 May 1943. After a period as instructor in the homeland he returned to the front on 23 September 1944 as Oberfähnrich and Ordonnanzoffizier of the II. Bataillon, Panzergrenadier-Regiment 3, and fell on 5 October 1944 during the assault on Ozbanice at the Soviet bridgehead near Serock.
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