BACKGROUND: Visor caps were a standard item for all personnel during the Third Reich period and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with based on the individuals rank. Officer and senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and could choose to purchase them from the army clothing depots or to privately purchase visor caps of higher quality. Originally the insignia worn on the visor cap consisted the Weimar Reichsheer patterns which included a blackened leather chinstrap for all ranks. In February 1927 new chin cords for Officer ranks were introduced with silver cords for the ranks of Leutnant to Oberst and senior NCO Officer aspirants and gilt cords for the ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall. Of Note: Both the first pattern Reichsheer era visor cap eagle and wreath were replaced with the second pattern in March 1935.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Private purchase, field-grey wool and rayon blend construction visor cap with a blue/green badge cloth centerband and pink wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The front center of the cap features a second pattern, polished natural aluminum national eagle. The front center of the centerband has a second pattern, stamped, polished natural aluminum, oak-leaf wreath encompassing a high relief, three piece national tri-color cockade. The national tri-color cockade consists of a fluted, black alloy base, a polished, natural aluminum roundel and an inserted, red mesh centerpiece. The cap has a twisted silver/aluminum chin cord which is secured in place by two, small, silver washed, pebbled, alloy buttons. The cap has a black lacquered vulcanfibre visor with a subtly raised lip near the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in two grades of gold rayon rayon. Celluloid sweat diamond is mostly complete as is the original Erel Paper tag!. Cap is double Erel marked. The interior of the cap also has a wide natural tan leather sweatband is mostly complete with the exception of an area at the forehead section and a few small other tears. The cap is roughly size 56. Panzer officer example are now quite hard to find. Nice cap.