BACKGROUND: Originally introduced in January of 1936, and designated a "Lagermütze" (Camp-cap), this designation was changed to "Sommer-Mütze" (Summer-Cap) later the same year. On introduction, the cap had both the national eagle and swastika insignia and the HJ diamond, and only came with red piping. In 1937 white piping was introduced for personnel of the NPEA, "Nationalpolitische Erziehunganstalt" (National-political Educational-establishment), and in April of 1938 six more branches of service piping were introduced. After 1939, and certainly by 1941, the national eagle and swastika were eliminated from wear.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A tan-colored cotton twill cap, with an expansion fold along its crown and whose fold-down side panels are permanently sewn in an upright position. The upper edges of the panels are piped in red. Beneath the piping, and over the forward seam line of the panels, is sewn a 1" tall, machine woven Hitler Youth diamond and swastika. There appears to have never been an eagle and swastika insignia affixed to the upper, forward edge of the cap. The interior, which is fully lined in tan-colored rayon, features a 1 1/2" wide, brown leather sweatband, along whose right side has been hand written the original owner’s name and location. Light age and usage soiling is evident to both the sweatband and the lining, and the sweatband has one noticeable crack to it. The exterior of the cap is also lightly age and usage soiled, more moderately so to its emblem, and its piping has significant wear to it in places. Untouched.

GRADE *** 3/4                                                        PRICE $305.00