BACKGROUND: German Naval uniforms and headgear were based on traditional designs that date back to the creation of the Prussian Navy in 1848, and although uniforms and headgear did evolve during the interim years many items used during the Third Reich would still have been quite recognizable to the Imperial sailor. One of the traditional headgear items utilized during the Third Reich was the "Donald Duck" sailor’s cap intended for wear by all Junior NCO’s and enlisted personnel. The design of the cap underwent numerous minor modifications during the intervening years, including a cap with removable, interchangeable, white and blue covers in April 1926. In December 1931 a final pattern was introduced that remained in use until the end of WWII with the only alterations being to the insignia and cap tallies worn. Originally Kriegsmarine personnel wore the Weimar Reichswehr era oval black, red and gold cockade which was replaced with a circular cockade in black, white, and red on March 14^TH 1933 and on March 24^TH 1934 the Kriegsmarine adopted wear of the new national eagle on the front of the headgear and the right breast of the uniform. The national eagle for wear on the Donald Duck cap was a bit smaller then the eagle worn on the visor caps and was constructed in metal as opposed to cloth versions for most other cloth headgear. The insignia for the Donald Duck cap came either as separate pieces or in a unique combined configuration. Regulations of October 29^TH 1936 replaced the previously used gilt wire thread for the script on the cap tallies with golden yellow celleon threads as a result of the earlier cap tallies oxidizing to a greenish verdigris tone. On November 1^ST 1938 the "Kriegsmarine" titled cap talley was introduced for wear as a security measure in the case of mobilization, and the wear of named cap tallies was restricted to barracks and on ships only if there was no possibility of them being seen by outside personnel. Additional regulations of September 5^TH 1939 withdrew all named cap tallies from further wear, to be replaced with the "Kriegsmarine" cap talley, for the duration of the war. Of Note: The Kreuzer Köln, ({Light} Cruiser Cologne), was launched on May 23^RD 1928 and participated in non-intervention patrols during the Spanish Civil War. During WWII the Köln served as an escort for mine layers in the North Sea, before participating in the battle for Norway. She continued service in northern waters through-out the war until she was sunk in port at Wilhelmshaven on April 30^TH 1945.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, deep navy blue doeskin wool construction "Donald Duck" style sailor’s cap features a removable, one piece, circular crown and four piece body panels with machine stitched vertical seams to each side and the obverse and reverse centers. The removable top has been handstitched to the cap band at both sides and the obverse and reverse centers. The internal crown stiffening wire stiffener has been removed but a small, vertical, internal stiffener to the front center is still intact giving the cap a nice relaxed appearance. The cap has had the national eagle and tri-color cockade removed with some small scars left as evidence. The cap has an early, (pre-November 1936), woven black silk construction cap talley with machine woven Gothic script, "Kreuzer Königsberg", in gilt flat-wire threads. The cap talley is secured to the cap by a vertical thread to each side and an additional two diagonally angled threads to the reverse center. The cap talley has long, extended, "tails" with diagonally cut ends creating the "swallow tail" effect. The talley shows moderate age and usage toning, moderate age tarnish and verdigris spotting to the script and minor fraying to the "swallow tail" ends. The interior crown of the cap is lined in black cotton and is well marked with a white size inkstamp, "57 1/2". The interior of the cap also has a mid-brown leather sweatband fully intact and most of the clear celluloid cap band stiffening underlay intact. The exterior of the cap is in overall good condition with minor nap wear and age and usage toning.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $595.00