BACKGROUND: The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 as the Stosstrupp Adolf Hitler (Shock Troops Adolf Hitler), and was re-designated 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 9TH 1925. On January 6TH 1929 Heinrich Himmler was appointed as Reichsführer-SS, (National Leader of the SS), and on July 20TH 1934 shortly after the, June 30TH 1934, purge of the SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment) 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 and crossbones 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 1927 political pattern national eagle on their visor caps. In an attempt to distance themselves from the SA, the SS introduced a new pattern cap skull and crossbones to replace the previously used Danziger style skull and crossbones on October 6TH 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 all ranks wore white piping on the visor caps until regulations of June 23RD 1934 introduced silver/aluminum piping for the ranks of SS-Oberführer up to the rank of Reichsführer-SS while the ranks of SS-Anwärter to SS-Standartenführer continued to utilize the white piping. Also originally all ranks utilized a blackened leather chinstrap until regulations of 1935 introduced silver/aluminum chin cords for the ranks of SS-Oberführer up to the rank of Reichsführer-SS. In 1938 the first earth-grey versions of the service visor cap were introduced for wear with the newly introduced field-grey uniform and the first field-grey version caps followed in 1939. Although the Waffen-SS adopted waffenfarben, (Branch of Service Colors), in 1939, the appropriate waffenfarbe was only displayed as piping on the shoulder straps and the base of the shoulder boards. Regulations of May 10TH 1940 introduced assorted waffenbfarbe piping for Waffen-SS visor caps for the ranks of SS-Anwärter to SS-Standartenführer but the order was rescinded on November 5TH 1940 and the white piping was reinstated for all ranks up to SS-Oberführer. With the adoption of the assorted waffenfarben colors each branch of service was allocated a specific ,identifying, color, which was displayed as piping on the visor caps, for a short period of time, (May-November 1940), with golden yellow being chosen for Cavalry personnel. After the outbreak of WWII the black service headgear were eventually phased out of wear for all but Allgemeine-SS personnel. 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 individual’s 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, field-grey wool construction, (May 10TH 1940 to November 5TH 1940) visor cap with a wide, black wool centerband and golden yellow wool piping to the top of the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The front center of the centerband has a stamped zinc, SS style Totenkopf, (Death's Head), and cross bones as introduced on October 6TH 1934. The skull features detailed eye and nose cut-outs, two rows of teeth and a bottom jaw, superimposed over crossed bones. The skull also has subtle cranium and bone detailing. The cap has a glossy, blackened, patent leather, chinstrap with two, black painted, sliding, vertically rectangular, sheet metal, length adjustment buckles and a central, vertically rectangular, sheet metal, joining clip. The chinstrap is secured to the cap by two, small, black painted, smooth finish, magnetic sheet metal buttons. The cap has a extended, forward, black lacquered, vulcanfibre visor with a subtly raised lip near the forward edge and an orangish/ tan bottom with a repeating cross-hatched pattern. The interior of the cap is fully lined with a gold cloth lining. The crown lining has the original, clear celluloid, sweat diamond 95% intact. The interior of the cap also has a wide tan ersatz sweatband. The cap is roughly size 57/58 cm. Some mothing. Cap will need to have an original eagle restored back to it. Very rare original visor. Nice!