SEE BELOW FOR DESCRIPTION
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N000359 SA EM/NCO'S SERVICE KEPI. (SA-Dienstmütze)
BACKGROUND: The SA, "Sturmabteilung" (Storm-troops), were originally formed in August of 1921 as a protective guard unit for the political leaders of the fledgling NSDAP, "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei" (National-socialist German Worker’s-party). As with the Nazi party, the SA was structured along para-military lines. Most of its recruits were from the ranks of the various "Freikorps" groups of the day, composed mainly of disgruntled ex-soldiers, and they were first utilized at a Nazi party meeting in Munich in November of 1921. Originally, members of the SA had no official headgear, and most wore a grey, Austrian-style ski cap until the introduction of the soft kepi in 1924. It was modified in 1929, taking, effectively, its final "coffee can" form. After 1933, the colored tops which had hitherto been reserved for SA leaders were extended to all ranks.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A tan cotton twill cap with a flat crown, stiff sides and visor. The wire-stiffened edge of the crown is piped in the same material, and there are two, brown-painted alloy ventilation grommets just below the crown edge to either side. These grommets are along a band of dark brown wool. Tan cotton twill panels, originally designed to fold down but which were permanently stitched into an upright position after 1937, as in this example, are beneath the brown-colored band and scallop towards the front where a 11/16" diameter, nickel-silver plated, smooth metal button is sewn to their forward, central seam. A 1937 pattern, silver washed, stamped zinc eagle and swastika, whose wingspan is 2 5/8", is applied to the colored front by the three prongs to its reverse. Its original finish is 70% retained. The combination of the brown wool and the silver-colored distinguish the wearer as having belonged to group "Westmark" ("Mittelrhein" after 1941). Its dark brown leather chinstrap is in two sections, connected at its center by a brown-painted, rectangular metal "ring," with black-painted, square metal sliding adjustment buckles to either side of it. The chinstrap is attached at either end by 1/2" diameter, brown-painted, smooth metal buttons. The kepi’s short, stiff visor is covered in tan cotton twill. The interior crown is lined in light orange/brown oilcloth, with what appears to be the numbers "54," indicating the size. Its Havana brown alkor sweatband shows light chafe wear, with a few tears, but is otherwise intact. A brown and white oilcloth RZM, "Reichszeugmeisterei" (National-material-control-office), tag is sewn underneath the rear right of the sweatband. Typical, light age soiling is evident throughout. The ranks of SA-Mann through SA-Obertruppführer wore these un-piped kepi with their group color exposed above the fold-down panels. Nice untouched example.
GRADE ***3/4 PRICE $1,072.00
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