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 26^TH 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 18^TH 1934 and was officially adopted for wear by all Luftwaffe personnel on March 1^ST 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. 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon blend construction visor cap features a black, horizontally ribbed, interwoven, mohair centerband, and bright, interwoven, silver/aluminum piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal cap crown stiffening wire has been removed but a vertical stiffener to the front center and internal padding give the cap a nice Sattelform shape with a high, central, forward peak. The front center of the cap has a hand embroidered, second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle clutching a canted, swastika in it’s talons in bright, silver/aluminum wire threads with bright, silver/aluminum, bullion and pale grey rayon accent threads on a cut-out, Luftwaffe blue/grey wool base. The eagle is neatly handstitched to the cap. The front center of the centerband has a hand embroidered, winged, oak-leaf wreath in silver/aluminum wire threads, with tan accent threads, encompassing a high relief, national tri-color cockade. The national tri-color cockade is constructed of black and silver/aluminum wire threads with an inserted red wool centerpiece. The winged wreath and cockade are mounted on a cut-out, black wool base which is neatly handstitched in place. 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 a forward, extended, blackened lacquered, vulcanfiber visor with machine stitched, simulated, leather trim to the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in two grades of golden/tan rayon with a ribbed lining to the body and a smooth lining to the crown. The crown lining has a clear celluloid sweat rhomboid almost fully intact with one central tear. The interior of the cap also has a tan leather sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section fully intact. The sweatband is well marked with the faint, impressed, manufacturer’s acronym, "Erel", indicating manufacture by the Robert Lubstein firm of Berlin and additional script consisting of "Patent", (Patent), and, "Stirnschutz", (Forehead Protection). The reverse of the sweatband has a black size inkstamp, "55 1/2". The cap is in overall very good condition with minor age and usage toning.

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $1,395.00