BACKGROUND: Visor caps were a standard item for all Wehrmacht, (Armed Forces), personnel during the Third Reich period, (Circa 1933-1945), and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with based on the individual’s rank. Originally the insignia worn on the visor caps consisted of the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era, pattern oak-leaf wreath and cockade and a blackened leather chinstrap for all ranks. In February 1927 new chin cords for Officer’s 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, early, field-grey wool construction, "Tellerform", visor cap with a subtle whipcord weave features a blue/green, badge cloth centerband and golden yellow wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire, a vertical stiffener to the internal front center and the internal padding are all intact and maintain the caps low, circular crown shape with overlapping side panels and a low, central, forward peak. The front center of the cap features a second pattern, (circa 1935-1945), frosty, silver washed, stamped alloy, national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in it’s talons. The eagle is secured to the cap by two, bent over prongs on the reverse. The front center of the centerband has a second pattern, (circa 1935-1945), frosty silver washed, stamped alloy, oak-leaf wreath encompassing a separate, low vaunted, three piece, stamped alloy, national tri-color cockade. The national tri-color cockade consists of a black fluted alloy base, a bright silver washed alloy, roundel and an inserted red wool center dot. Both the wreath and cockade are secured to the cap by bent over prongs on the reverse. The eagle, wreath and cockade roundel all retain over 95% of their original, silver washes with a light yellow age patina. The cap has a blackened, patent leather chinstrap intact with two, black painted, vertically rectangular, sheet metal retaining clips and two, black painted, vertically oval, sliding length adjustment buckles. The chinstrap is secured to the cap by two, small, smooth finish, black painted, magnetic sheet metal buttons. The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered, vulcanfibre visor with a subtly raised lip near the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in a waterproofed orangish/tan, cheesecloth. The crown lining has a clear celluloid sweat rhomboid almost fully intact with one fair sized tear to the outer edge. The lining beneath the sweat rhomboid is well marked with a black, size inkstamp, "61". The interior of the cap also has a tan alkor sweatband, machine stitched in place. The sweatband has a couple of small rips and tears and numerous small surface cracks. The reverse of the sweatband is well marked with the faint, black inkstamped manufacturer’s name, location and date, "Franz Ritter vorm. Carl Roth Dettingen 1938". The reverse of the sweatband also has an additional black inkstamped mark, "H B 37", possibly indicating Heeres Bekleidungs, (Army Clothing {Office/Depot} 1937). The cap is in overall quite good condition with light age and usage toning a couple of small rust colored stains and some small spots of moth grazing resulting in about a half dozen, pin head sized holes. Nice, early, large sized cap.