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H010060 ARTILLERY OFFICER'S VISOR CAP. (Schirmmütze)
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, (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 14TH 1933 the Reichswehr’s oval black, red and gold cockade was replaced with a circular cockade in black, white, and red and on February 17TH 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 26TH 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 bright red being chosen for Artillerie, (Artillery), 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, visor cap with a field-grey wool/rayon blend body and crown, with a whipcord weave, and a blue/green badge cloth centerband with bright red wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire has been removed but an internal padding and a vertical stiffener to the interior front are still intact and give the cap a nice relaxed shape with overlapping side panels and a high, central, forward peak. The front center of the cap has an early, hand embroidered national eagle with short, out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in its talons, in bright silver/aluminum and bullion wire threads with green accent threads on a cut-out, blue/green, badge cloth base. The eagle is handstitched to the cap at a slight angle and may be a replacement. The front center of the centerband has a nice quality, hand embroidered, oak-leaf wreath in bright, silver/aluminum and bullion wire threads encompassing a highly vaunted, hand embroidered, national tri-color cockade in black and silver/aluminum wire threads with a red wool center dot, all mounted on a cut-out, blue/green badge cloth base that is handstitched to the cap and may be a replacement. The bright, twisted silver/aluminum chin cord and a single, small, silver washed, pebbled, alloy button have been removed from the cap, but are included. The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered vulcanfibre visor with a subtly raised lip to the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in subtly ribbed, pale green rayon. The lining shows moderate to heavy age and usage toning giving it a primarily tan appearance. The interior crown lining has a clear, celluloid, sweat rhomboid fully intact. The sweat rhomboid is well marked with faint, silver printed script that appears to include, "Offizier Kleiderkasse Berlin, (Officers Clothing Account Berlin), and the stylized, manufacturer’s acronym, "Erel", indicating manufacture by the Robert Lubstein firm of Berlin. Of Note: The "Kleiderkasse" and "Erel" logo markings would indicate that the Lubstein firm had a government contract to produce caps for the army. The interior of the cap also has a wide, age and usage darkened, tan leather sweatband, with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section, machine stitched in place. The sweatband also has impressed script that includes, "Erel Patent Stirnschutz". (Forehead Protection). The front section of the sweatband has a piece of cushioning fabric crudely handstitched to the reverse. The cap has no visible size markings. The cap is in overall good condition with light to moderate age and usage toning, about a half dozen small moth nips and a couple of tears, primarily to the waffenfarbe piping and beneath the overlapping side panels. The cap is roughly size 57.
GRADE ***1/4 PRICE $714.00
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