BACKGROUND: Although the Kriegsmarine had utilized female personnel even before WWII, they were employed on an individual contract basis and classed as civilians. In December 1941 the War Service Laws dictated that females between 18 and 40 years of age could be drafted into military service as non-combatants with the Wehrmachtgefolge, (Armed Forces Retinue). Assorted auxiliary services were instituted up to July 1942, when the Marinehelferinnen, (Navy Auxiliaries), was established. Uniform regulations for the Marinehelferinnen personnel was published in late 1942 and early 1943, and included the overseas cap. The design of the female auxiliary overseas cap was basically identical to the male overseas cap with distinctive rank identifying piping. Originally the female auxiliaries wore the standard national eagle on the upper front of the cap and no national cockade, in May of 1944 regulations altered the placement of the national eagle to the front center of the fold down panel and altered the color of the rank piping. Of Note: In November 1944 all female auxiliary personnel were grouped together under the control of the newly established, "Wehrmachthelferinnenkorps", (Corps of Female Armed Forces Auxiliaries).

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, May 1944 pattern, deep navy blue wool/rayon blend construction cap features fold down side and back panels with gently sloping, downward scallops to the front and forward sides and golden yellow wool rank piping to the top edges. The fold down panels are handstitched in the upright position at the front center of the cap as is typical. The rank piping indicates the ranks of Marineunterführerin to Marineoberstabsführerin inclusively. The front center of the fold down panels has a machine woven national eagle in golden yellow threads on a woven, navy blue, rayon base. The eagle is machine stitched to the cap. The cap has no national tri-color cockade, as per regulations. The interior of the cap is fully lined in black rayon. Cap is maker marked to "Willy Sprengpfeil Mützenfabrik Hamburg 19", and the date, "1940". Size marked 58. Great cap!