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L005258 FLAK ARTILLERY OFFICER ASPIRANT'S WHITE TOP VISOR CAP. (Schirmmütze für Sommer)
BACKGROUND: Visor caps were a standard item for all military personnel during the Third Reich period and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with based on the individuals rank. On its inception on February 26TH 1935, the Luftwaffe adopted most of the uniform items of the earlier DLV, Deutscher Luftsport Verband, (German Air Sports League), its clandestine, civilian forerunner, including the visor cap. In March 1935 the earlier, "Tellerform", saucer shaped, caps were replaced with a new a "Sattelform" cap with a higher front peak and an oval shaped top. The insignia utilized on the visor caps consisted of the Luftwaffe style national eagle as introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV on August 18TH 1934 and was officially adopted for wear by all Luftwaffe personnel on March 1ST 1935 along with a new winged wreath and national tri-color cockade. The visor caps for Company and Field grade Officer’s holding the ranks of Leutnant up to Oberst were distinguished from EM/NCO’s caps by bright silver/aluminum piping and a silver/aluminum chin cord while Officers holding Generals ranks of Generalmajor up to Reichsmarschall utilized gold colored fittings. EM/NCO ranks visor caps utilized the appropriate waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), piping and blackened leather chinstraps. Senior NCO’s chosen as officer aspirants were also permitted wear of the twisted silver/aluminum chin cord but retained the branch of service piping. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Luftwaffe’s Verkaufsabteilung, (Air-Force Sales Department), 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. In April 1935 a white topped visor cap was introduced and was permitted for wear by all ranks as an optional item between April 1ST and October 1ST annually. The cap was most commonly produced with a removable top although fixed top caps were also produced contrary to regulations. Originally the removable white tops were produced in a ribbed white cotton drill until regulations of June 1937 altered the top to a white cotton/synthetic material blend with a repeating waffle pattern although both styles were worn through-out the war. The different branches of service within the Luftwaffe were allocated a specific, identifying, waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with bright red being chosen for personnel serving with the Flugzeugabwehrartillerie, (Anti-Aircraft Artillery), which was displayed as piping on EM/NCO’s visor caps.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, pre-June 1937, Officer aspirant’s white top visor cap consists of a removable, ribbed, white, cotton/rayon blend top with white cotton/rayon blend piping to the forward edge of the crown. The removable top fits securely to the formed body of the cap. The cap features a black, horizontally ribbed, mohair centerband, and bright red wool waffenfarbe piping to both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The interior of the cap has a vertical stiffener to the front center and retains the cap’s shape with a high, central, forward, peak. The internal vertical stiffener has a sheet metal, male snap with a corresponding female snap on the removable top. The front center of the cap has an second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), hand embroidered, Luftwaffe eagle, clutching a canted, swastika in it’s talons, in bright silver/aluminum wire and bullion threads with pale grey accent threads on a cut-out, white wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the cap. The front center of the centerband has a silver washed, stamped alloy, winged wreath with a black, silver and red painted national tri-color cockade. The winged wreath and cockade are secured to the cap by prongs on the reverse and retain all of their respective finishes and are quite clean and bright. The cap has an interwoven, twisted, silver/aluminum braid, chin cord which is secured to the cap by two, small, silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal buttons. The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered, vulcanfibre visor with a machine stitched, simulated leather lip to the forward edge. The unlined interior of the cap has a wide, tan leather sweatband with ornate ventilation perforations to the front forehead section. The sweatband is in very good condition and is well marked with silvered, impressed script, "Stirndruckfrei Deutsches Reichspatent", (Forehead Pressure Free German National Patent). The cap is in overall very good condition with light age and usage toning to the white top as to be expected and some moisture spotting. The cap is roughly size 56.
GRADE ***3/4 PRICE $995.00
To Order this item, please use one of the two e-mail addresses below to contact us. Please make sure to quote the item number in your e-mail
-E-Mail Address pawmac@nbnet.nb.ca Or guild@nb.aibn.com
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