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 individual’s 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 pink being chosen for Panzer, (Armored), personnel which was displayed as piping on the visor cap for EM/NCO’s and Company and Field grade officers. Of Note: The general waffenfarbe for all armored units was pink although other colors were utilized including red for armored artillery units, golden yellow for armored reconnaissance units and the 24^TH Panzer Division, lemon yellow for armored signals units and, for a short time, alternating black and white for armored engineer units. 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, issue, field-grey wool construction visor cap with a subtle whipcord weave features a blue/green, badge cloth centerband and pink 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 rounded, "Tellerform" shaped crown with a high central peak. The front center of the cap has a silver washed, second pattern, (circa 1935-1945), die stamped, alloy construction, national eagle with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in it’s talons and the front center of the centerband has a silver washed, second pattern, (circa 1935-1945), die stamped, alloy, oak-leaf wreath encompassing a three piece, high relief, national tri-color cockade. The eagle is slightly convexed to fit the contours of the cap and retains about 90% of its silver wash. The oak-leaf wreath retains over 95% of its frosty silver wash and is quite clean and bright. The national tri-color cockade consists of a fluted, black alloy base, a silver washed, alloy roundel and an inserted, red felt centerpiece. The roundel retains about 50% of its silver wash and shows light age tarnish. The cap has a blackened, patent leather chinstrap intact with two, black painted, vertically rectangular, sheet metal retaining clips and two, black painted, vertically rectangular, 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 the faint, black, size inkstamp, "59". Unfortunately the interior sweatband has been fully removed but it does not distract from the exterior appearance of the cap. The cap is in overall good condition with minor age and usage toning and about a dozen pin head sized moth nips to the crown.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $536.00