Original Bulgarian WWII Model 43 Style Officer’s Cap with Cockade

Original Item. Only One Available. The history of Bulgaria during World War II encompasses an initial period of neutrality until 1 March 1941, a period of alliance with the Axis Powers until 8 September 1944, and a period of alignment with the Allies in the final year of the war. Bulgarian military forces occupied with German consent parts of the Kingdoms of Greece and Yugoslavia which Bulgarian irredentism claimed on the basis of the 1878 Treaty of San Stefano. Bulgaria resisted Axis pressure to join the war against the Soviet Union, which began on 22 June 1941, but did declare war on Britain and the United States on 13 December 1941. The Red Army entered Bulgaria on 8 September 1944; Bulgaria declared war on Germany the next day.

This is a very interesting Bulgarian officer’s cap in the style of the German M43 cap. There is a cockade to the front of the cap which originally would have had the white green and red colors of the Bulgarian flag. We found similar examples online, so we are certain that’s what it is.

The cap shows heavy field wear, with the string in the front holding the two side pieces together. When undone, these would allow for covering of the ears and back of the head. The interior of the cap shows heavy period wear, without any markings we could find. There is tearing in the lining at the front and back, showing the inner wool. The cap is roughly a Size 7 ¼.

Comes ready for further research and display.