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N039076 DRK OFFICER’S M43 STYLE WINTER SERVICE CAP.

BACKGROUND: The DRK, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (German Red Cross), was a voluntary civil assistance organization that was originally instituted in 1864 and was officially acknowledged by the Geneva Convention on July 27TH 1929. On December 9TH 1937 the DRK gained the status of a legally recognized organization by the NSDAP. As with other essential services in Third Reich Germany the DRK came under control of the NSDAP in late 1938 under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior Social Welfare Organization. DRK uniforms can be traced back to at least WWI and underwent minor modifications until August 6TH 1935 when major modifications were enacted including the introduction of the national eagle emblem with swastika. Further regulations in January 1938 dictated additional minor uniform modifications. Also in January 1938 the DRK introduced a new visored field cap, designated, Bergrettendienst Mütze, (Mountain Rescue Service Cap), with the design based on the Mountain caps worn by Austrian Mountain troops in WWI.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Winter service cap (Baschlikmutzen). Nice quality, charcoal grey wool/rayon blend construction cap features a high forward crown and fold down back and side panels with a scalloped front edge and forward sides. The back and side panels were designed to be folded down to protect the wearers ears and neck. The front center of the cap has a second pattern, Third Reich era, (circa 1938), machine woven DRK national eagle on a vertically oval, pale grey rayon base. The stylized, black eagle features down swept wings with a canted, pale grey, swastika superimposed on its breast and clutching a red cross in its talons. The eagles oval base is machine stitched to the cap in the typical zig-zag fashion. The scalloped front center section of the fold down panels has a three piece national tri-color cockade held in place by dual bent over prongs. The cockade features a fluted metal alloy base, an alloy roundel and an inset red felt center. Top seam of the cap is piped in silver/aluminum braid. The cap has a short, forward, cloth covered visor with an internal stiffener with a raised lip to the bottom of the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in light weight tan cotton. Cap is size marked 56. Nice cap.     (Ex Philippe Gillain Collection)

GRADE ****1/2                                                 PRICE $500.00

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