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H016760 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, private purchase, visor cap with a field-grey doeskin wool body and crown 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, a vertical stiffener to the interior front and the underlying crown piping base are still intact. The underlying crown piping base has been crimped inwards at either side of the front center giving the cap a nice, relaxed, "jaunty", shape with overlapping side panels and a high, central, forward peak. The front center of the cap has a hand embroidered national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in its talons, in bright silver/aluminum and bullion wire threads with tan and black accent threads on a cut-out, blue/green, badge cloth base. The eagle is handstitched to the cap. 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, three piece, stamped alloy, 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. Both the wreath and cockade are mounted on a cut-out, blue/green badge cloth base that is handstitched to the cap. The cap has a bright, twisted, silver/aluminum chin cord 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 to the forward edge. The visor is missing a few stitches and is a little loose. The interior of the cap is fully lined in brushed, golden/tan rayon. The lining has a couple of small tears and the stitch outline where a sweat rhomboid had been applied and removed. The lining is well marked with the faint, mostly illegible, pale red manufacturer’s inkstamp that appears to include the stylized, overlapping manufacturer’s initials/logo, "HPC", indicating manufacture by the Hermann Potthoff firm of Coesfeld. The interior of the cap also has a wide, age and usage darkened, tan leather sweatband, with ornate, ventilation perforations to the front forehead section, machine stitched in place. The sweatband has a couple of fair sized tears. The cap has no visible size markings. The cap is in overall fairly good condition with light age and usage toning, some moderate nap wear revealing the fabric’s subtle, ribbed weave base and about a half dozen small handstitched repairs. The cap is roughly size 53.
GRADE *** PRICE $685.00
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