BACKGROUND: The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 as the Stosstrupp Adolf Hitler (Shock Troops Adolf Hitler), and was redesignated Schutz Staffel, (Protection Squad), in April 1925 with the official acceptance of the name verified on the second anniversary of the failed Munich "Beer-Hall" Putsch on November 9^TH 1925. On January 6^TH 1929 Heinrich Himmler was appointed as Reichsführer-SS, (National Leader {of the} SS), and on July 20^TH 1934 shortly after the, June 30^TH 1934, purge of the SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm Troopers) on the "Night of the Long Knives", the SS was rewarded by Hitler by being granted the status of an independent organization under direct control of the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party). From its inception the SS began an aggressive policy of expansion which resulted in the formation of the SS-SD, SS-Sicherheitsdienst und Sicherheitspolizei, (SS-Security Service and Security Police), in June 1931, the SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), and the SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units), in March 1933 which would eventually evolve into the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), in December 1939. Originally members of the fledgling SS had no official uniform or headgear until April 1925 when they adopted, what was to become known as the, "Tradition Uniform" and personnel were outfitted with the same brown shirt uniform and kepi as the SA personnel. In 1923 the Stabswache (Headquarter Guards), was the first SS unit to adopt the Imperial Prussian Danziger style skull for wear on their headgear which was extended to all SS personnel in April 1925. In November 1925 personnel of the newly formed SS adopted a black Kepi to distinguish them from their SA counterparts and in 1927 the SS were the first to adopted the national eagle insignia for wear on their headgear. In 1932, the first black SS service visor caps were introduced for wear to replace the kepi as the standard headgear for all ranks. Originally, SS personnel wore the Danziger style skull and the political 1927 pattern national eagle on their visor caps. In an attempt to distance themselves from the SA, the SS introduced a new pattern cap skull to replace the previously used Danziger style skull on October 6^TH 1934 and in February 1936 a new SS pattern national cap eagle was introduced. Both these pieces of insignia were worn through-out the war. Originally the Allgemeine-SS white summer uniform and visor cap made their appearance in late 1938 or early 1939 and both Officers and NCO personnel were permitted to wear them as an optional uniform item as a walking out uniform, an informal dress uniform, or for viewing or participating in certain sporting events between April 1^ST and September 30^TH annually. On June 27^TH 1939 Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler gave semi-official sanction to the white summer uniform and visor cap but restricted its wear to Officers ranks although the directive was not completely adhered to. As a semi-official item the white visor caps were not issued but were only available as a private purchase item. The white visor caps were produced with both fixed and removable tops. Allgemeine-SS Company and Field grade officers holding the ranks of SS-Untersturmführer up to and including SS-Standartenführer wore black piping on the white visor caps while the ranks of SS-Oberführer up to and including the rank of Reichsführer-SS utilize the silver piping. SS Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own uniforms and headgear and as a result the SS established the SS-Kleiderkasse, (SS-Clothing Account), system in Munich in 1935. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s were allotted a one time clothing allowance from the government with the amount varying depending on the individuals rank. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could also choose to purchase privately tailored garments of higher quality although the price may have been restrictive.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, white top visor cap consists of a removable, white, cotton/rayon blend top with a repeating waffle pattern, pique weave and bright, interwoven, silver/aluminum piping to the forward edge of the crown. The removable top fits securely to the formed body of the cap. The cap features a black velvet centerband with bright, interwoven, silver/aluminum piping to both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire and an additional, vertical, stiffener to the front center of the cap are still intact and give the cap a nice, rounded top, "Tellerform", shape with a high, central, front peak. The central, front, interior bottom edge of the removable crown has an alloy, male snap with a corresponding female alloy snap on the body designed to secure the top to the body. The front center of the cap has a second pattern, silver washed, stamped, tombac alloy construction, SS style national eagle, with out-stretched wings, clutching a wreathed, canted, swastika in it’s talons, as introduced in February 1936. The eagle only retains about 40% of it’s original silver wash with spots of wear to the coppery toned tombac alloy base. The front center of the centerband has a second pattern, silver washed, stamped, tombac alloy construction Totenkopf, as introduced in October 1934. The Totenkopf features detailed eye and nose cut-outs, two rows of teeth and a bottom jaw, superimposed over crossed bones. The Totenkopf has subtle cranium and bone detailing and only retains about 30% of it’s original silver washed finish with spots of wear to the coppery toned tombac alloy base. The cap has a bright, twisted, silver/aluminum chin cord which is secured in place by two, small, silver washed, pebbled, magnetic sheet metal buttons. The cap has a black lacquered, vulcanfibre visor with a raised lip near the forward edge. The top edge of the visor shows minor surface cracks to the lacquered finish. The bottom edge of the visor has an off-white lacquered finish also with minor surface cracks to the lacquered finish. The interior of the cap is fully lined in brushed, off-white rayon. The crown lining has a clear celluloid sweat diamond fully intact. The interior of the cap also has a pale grey leather sweatband fully intact. The interior lining and sweatband both show light age and usage toning. The bottom edge of the cap’s body has a narrow strip of ribbed black wool machine stitched in place. The cap has no visible size, manufacturer’s or RZM markings. The cap is in overall good condition with about a dozen small rips and tears and some spots of light to moderate moisture staining to the removable white top. The cap is roughly size 57. Of Note: Waffen-SS white top visor caps utilized white piping for the ranks of SS-Untersturmführer up to and including SS-Standartenführer while the ranks of SS-Oberführer up to and including the rank of Reichsführer-SS utilize the silver piping. Also the bottom edge of the Waffen-SS cap’s body had a narrow strip of field-grey wool as opposed to the ribbed black wool strip utilized on Allgemeine-SS white top visor caps. Cap came back with a Canadian vet at the end of WW2 and has been with the same family since then. Original vets name will be provided to the new owner.

GRADE ***1/2                             -POR (Price on Request) (Preis: auf Anfrage)