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. 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, privately purchased, slightly mottled, Luftwaffe blue/grey, wool/rayon blend construction visor cap features a black, horizontally ribbed, interwoven, mohair centerband, and bright red wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire, internal padding and a vertical stiffener to the interior front center are all still intact and give the cap a nice, rounded top form with a high, central, forward peak. The front center of the cap has an second pattern, (Circa 1936/1937-1945), silver washed, stamped alloy, Luftwaffe eagle clutching a canted, swastika in it’s talons. 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. Both the eagle and the winged wreath and cockade retain about 95% of their respective finishes and are quite clean and bright. Both the eagle and the winged wreath and cockade are secured to the cap by prongs on the reverse. The cap has a black, patent leather chinstrap with two, black painted, rectangular, metal, retaining clips and two, black painted, vertically oval, metal sliding length adjustment buckles. The chinstrap is secured to the cap by two, smooth, black painted 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 interior of the cap is fully lined in orangish/tan cheesecloth. The crown lining has a clear celluloid sweat rhomboid fully intact. The sweat rhomboid is well marked with the silver, embossed, manufacturer’s name, location, date and script, "Gustav Binner Mützenfabrik Breslau 1 Ohlauerstr. 42 Tel. 53180 Lieferjahr 1938". The crown lining beneath the sweat rhomboid has the faint, black, inkstamped size, "54 1/2". The interior of the cap also has a wide, tan leather sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section fully intact. The reverse of the sweatband is well marked with a black, unit designation inkstamp, "L. Flak-Abt 84" and an additional crossed out unit designation that appears to be, "II./Flak 14". The cap is in overall very good condition with minimal age and usage toning and a couple of very small moth nips to the crown piping.

GRADE ****1/4                             PRICE $645.00