It all depended. Like the brit commandos, who wore berets instead of "tin hats". You see it more with the germans than anyone else. But yes, the americans did it also, tankers were famous for it, as well as pilots and some infantrymen.
i think the reason they wore caps was because they were the minimalistly (word i think i just made up) trained. maybe they didnt want to make helmets for them. resources or something.
I thought every german had a cap so they could prefer the cap if they wanted to... many sarges didn't wear their helmets but only their caps... makes a clear distinguish.
Well, it could be due to the design of the helmet.
For instance, the US "steel pot" was actually very good for its time. Fully adjustable, one size fits all. Good protection.
However, you hear some bad reports of the older British style helmets. Particulary in rough glider landings. It could either fall backwards, cracking the back of your skull, or forwards breaking your nose. I'm not sure how good the German helmets were in comparison, as far as comfort. They do appear quite similiar to modern combat helmets, so I doubt protection is an issue.
What are you talking aobut bourjois, I can show you more than one picture of a whole squad and every single one of them are wearing field caps. Is it a whole squad a NCOs? No, wouldnt happen.
In the game the germans wear both which is true to life. I do wish that they had men with visors (for officers) The billed hat they were in the game is called an m43 it DOES NOT have a chin strap as depicted in the game (it never did) Sean
Cap was just personal preference, just like how some Brit Commandos wore american ghillie helmets, or red berets, its all random.
Btw, the German helmets were considered remarkebly good. I mean, if you look at the helmets almost every country uses today, the helmet is based off of the ww2 German helmet. Especially American Combat helm.
"If I had believed your numbers, I never would have started this war..." Hitler to Heinz Guderian
German camoflague was an art in itself. The Germans even had a camoflague pattern made of special inks that would prevent IR-equipped tanks and scopes from seeing them, but they were only issued to the Nowegian SS division, iirc.
Germans were issued both helmets and field caps. Basically it was personal preference, there was no use to distinguish NCOs from Schutzen or anything. If you'd rather have a cap then a heavy steel helmet then wear it, but it's not a good idea.
I haven't seen any photographs of Germans going into battle with field caps on.
I think the question as to why they wore caps was answered, but it was not common. If they were resting or eating or something, I could see them wearing a cap instead of a helmet. As for combat, like I said, it was not common. In fact, the only notable picture I can think of is one of two Jagr (mountain) troops with an MG-42, both with their caps on. As for the quality of the helmets, the Germans had some of the best, although the Fallschrimjagr ones have been criticized by some former soldiers. The modern American helmet is VERY similar to the non-paratroop German helmet...
I believe all enlisted soldiers were issued a field cap as well as a helmet. Depending on where you served and what branch of the German military you were in is what color and insignia were on the cap. As the war progressed, the caps were changed as well, just like the german helmets 9ex. M35,M40 and M42 helmets were issued) Germans helmets offered very good protection,the flared out part of the helmet in the back good protection from sharpnel and flying debris hitting the infantryman in the neck. In fact, look at todays U.S. military...notice how our helmets resemble the german helmets of WWII.
