HISTORY.  Pith helmets are lightweight cloth-covered (1st pattern) or felt-covered (2nd pattern) helmets used by the German Afrika Korps (Deutsches Afrikakorps - DAK). The DAK was the German expeditionary force in Libya and Tunisia during the North African Campaign of WW2. Erwin Rommel was in command of the DAK to support the Italian army who had been faced with heavy Commonwealth Force counter-offensives of the British Eighth Army.

 Constructed of dried pith, with a tan cloth exterior and red cloth interior. It consists of a large dome with a large vented squatchee at the top, and with a large brim around the helmet. The brim is trimmed with a thin strip of dark green faux leather, and is covered on the underside by matching tan cloth.  It is decorated by a matching olive green chin strap.  Two insignia on the sides of the helmet, consisting of a shield depicting a national eagle with open wings clutching a mobile swastika. The other side with a shield decorated in the colors of a German tri-color cockade. Besides the red vented cloth liner, this cap also has tan leather sweatband. Near MINT.

A12078