BACKGROUND: Free Trade Unions in Germany were dissolved when the Nazis came to power in 1933, their members being absorbed into the newly created DAF, "Deutsche Arbeitsfront" (German Labor-front). The DAF was originally a sub-section of the NSDAP, but became an affiliated organization by 1936, and was the largest of all of the various Nazi organizations. The stated aims of the DAF were to create a national community of German professional and manual laborers, and to educate them in National Socialist principles. Membership was voluntary, but most workers chose to join to take advantage of the entertainment, sport, and travel opportunities provided by the attached KdF, "Kraft durch Freude" (Strength through Joy), welfare organization. The Wilhelm Gustloff was the flagship steamer of the KdF fleet. In 1939 she was the utilized by the armed forces as a troop ship (used in the training of U-boat personnel) and transport vessel. In January of 1945 she was torpedoed by a Russian submarine and sank. Almost 10,000 civilian’s and military personal where lost in the sinking making it the worst loss of life in maritime history.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Very rare " Donald Duck" style sailor's cap for the KdF liner Wilhelm Gustloff. The non removable white cotton construction top features a pique weave with a one piece, circular crown and four piece side panels with machine stitched vertical seams to each side and the center of the obverse and reverse. The cap has a white, blue and red cap talley with machine woven Gothic script, "M. S. Wilhelm Gustloff" with a national flag to one side and a DAF flag to the other. The cap talley is secured to the cap by a double vertical thread loops the rear of the centerband. The cap talley has long, extended, "tails" with straight cut ends. The interior of the cap has a white linen sweatband fully intact. A stamped alloy, national tri-color cockade is affixed to the top forward seam. The three piece national cockade consists of a black fluted alloy base, a natural aluminum roundel and an inserted red wool center dot. The cap has no visible size or manufacturers markings and is roughly size 55. Shows the expected age yellowing but overall very nice untouched condition. Very rare piece of maritime naval history.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $2,500.00