BACKGROUND: Visor caps were a standard item for all armed forces personnel during the Third Reich period and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with based on the individuals rank. Originally the insignia worn on the visor caps consisted of the Weimar Reichswehr pattern oak-leaf wreath and cockade and a blackened leather chinstrap for all ranks. In February 1927 new chin cords for Officer ranks were introduced with silver cords for the ranks of Leutnant to Oberst and gilt cords for the ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall. On March 14^TH 1933 the Reichswehr’s oval black, red and gold cockade was replaced with a circular cockade in black, white, and red and on February 17^TH 1934 the Third Reich pattern national eagle for the army was officially introduced for wear on the visor cap. In March 1935 a new, more detailed, pattern wreath and cockade and a second, larger pattern national eagle were also introduced for wear and in late 1935 regulations altered the Reichswehr era field-grey colored centerband to a dark blue/green coloration which was utilized until the end of the war. Further regulations of February 26^TH 1936 also permitted senior NCO’s who were Officer Candidates to wear the Officers twisted silver/aluminum chin cord on their visor caps as opposed to the standard EM/NCO’s leather chinstrap. The different branches of service within the army were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with golden yellow being chosen for Kavallerie, (Cavalry), personnel which was displayed as piping on the visor cap for EM/NCO’s and Company and Field grade officers. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their caps from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase visor caps of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their caps from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored caps although the price may have been restrictive.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, transitional, (circa mid to late-1935), visor cap with a slightly mottled, field-grey doeskin wool construction body and crown and a somewhat darker, field-grey, wool centerband with golden yellow wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire has been removed but an internal, vertical, stiffener, to the front center and an internal padding is intact and maintains the caps shape with a high central peak. The front center of the cap features a silver washed, second pattern, (circa 1935-1945), stamped alloy, national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted swastika in it’s talons. The front center of the centerband has a silver washed, second pattern, (circa 1935-1945), stamped alloy, oak-leaf wreath encompassing a separate, high relief, three piece, national tri-color cockade. The national tri-color cockade consists of a black fluted alloy base, a silver washed alloy, roundel and an inserted red wool center dot. The eagle retains about 70% of its silver wash while the wreath retains about 80% of its silver wash and both show light to moderate age toning. The cap has a twisted, bright silver/aluminum chin cord intact, secured in place by two, small, silver washed, pebbled, alloy buttons. The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered, vulcanfibre visor with a subtly raised lip near the forward edge. The heavily lacquered visor shows moderate surface scarring. The interior of the cap is fully lined in golden tan rayon. The interior crown lining has a the stitch outline where a sweat diamond has been removed and the faint, manufacturer’s acronym, "Erel", indicating manufacture by the Robert Lubstein firm of Berlin. The interior of the cap also has a wide tan leather sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front, forehead section. The sweatband is missing a couple of stitches and has a couple of small tears. The cap is in overall very good condition with light age and usage toning and some small areas of moth surface grazing resulting in some lost nap and about a dozen pinhead sized holes. The cap is roughly size 54. Nice, later, transitional period example.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $1,075.00