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. Officers and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and certain senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their caps from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase visor caps of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their caps from government supplies they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored caps although the price may have been restrictive. Originally the insignia worn on the visor caps consisted of the Weimar Reichswehr pattern oak-leaf wreath and cockade and 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 gilt cords for the ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall. On March 14TH 1933 the Reichswehr’s oval black, red and gold cockade was replaced with a circular cockade in black, white, and red and on February 17TH 1934 the Third Reich pattern national eagle for the army was officially introduced for wear on the visor cap. In March 1935 a new, more detailed, pattern wreath and cockade and a second, larger pattern national eagle were also introduced for wear and in late 1935 regulations altered the Reichswehr era field-grey colored centerband to a dark blue/green coloration which was utilized until the end of the war. Further regulations of February 26TH 1936 also permitted senior NCO’s who were Officer Candidates to wear the Officers twisted silver/aluminum chin cord on their visor caps as opposed to the standard EM/NCO’s leather chinstrap. The different branches of service within the army were allocated a particular identifying waffenfarbe, (Branch of Service Color), with black being chosen for Pionier, (Combat Engineer), personnel which was displayed as piping on the visor cap.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchase, visor cap with a field-grey wool body and crown, a blue/green badge cloth centerband and black wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The front center of the cap has a hand embroidered, national eagle with out-stretched wings in bright silver/aluminum wire threads with bright silver/aluminum bullion accents, mounted on a cut-out, blue/green badge cloth base. The front center of the centerband has a hand embroidered oak-leaf wreath in bright silver/aluminum wire threads with bright silver/aluminum bullion accents encompassing a high-relief, three piece, national tri-color cockade mounted on a cut-out, blue/green badge cloth base with an internal padding. The eagle, wreath and cockade are all handstitched to the cap. 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 an extended, black lacquered vulcanfibre visor with a subtly raised lip at the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in gold rayon. Celluloid sweat rhomboid is complete. The interior of the cap also has a wide tan leather sweatband intact. Cap has mothing and nap wear. Roughly a size 57/58.

GRADE *** 3/4                             PRICE $995.00