Original German WWII Luftwaffe Signals EM/NCO Schirmmütze Visor Cap – Size 57 Original Items

Original Item: Only One available. This is a very nice condition Luftwaffe Signals NCO/EM Schirmmütze (Visor Cap), which has a size 57 paper label on the inside. The interior of the crown still has a fully intact celluloid “diamond” sweat shield, however there are no markings whatsoever on it.

This is a wonderful honest example with a fantastic “saddle-form” crushed shape. It has had the original crown stiffener removed, so the outer edge has that lovely shape that everyone loves. This EM/NCO Schirmmütze Visor Cap is an original high quality manufactured cap. It is fabricated in Luftwaffe gray Fliegerblau (Flier’s Blue) wool gabardine, with wide black wool cap band, plus three rows of saddle brown (braun) color piping around the circumference. This is the Luftwaffe Waffenfarbe (corps color) for the Air communications corps (Lufnachrichtentruppe), usually referred to as “Signals”.

Cap is decorated with the correct insignia, including a finely-detailed aluminum eagle of the mid-war tail design on the peak, and an oak leaf wreath with stylized wings and central tri-color cockade on the band; the latter is made of aluminum with a red and black painted kokarde. The black-finished patent leather chin strap rests upon the visor and is made up of three pieces: the central piece with two brass buckles and joined to the flanking end pieces via rectangular loops, the end pieces attached to pebbled aluminum buttons on either side.

The visor is the classic black color with stitched edge trim, made of pressed vulcanfibre, and a green underside. There is some cracking and deterioration of the edge trim, as well as some checking and crazing on the black patent finish of the visor.

Overall condition is very good, with the expected wear from age and service. There are some moth nips on the top of the crown, as well as a bit on the piping, which is unfortunately quite common. The sweatband is made of light brown finished leather, and still has much of the original finish. The leather is supple, and there is still a lot of the original stitching present. The inside of the cap is lined with shiny aqua rayon cloth, which has just a bit of staining from age and use.

This is a great Luftwaffe Signals EM/NCO peaked visor cap, offered in very good used condition. Ready to display!

The visor cap (Schirmmütze) was an important part of the headgear worn by German uniformed military, civil, paramilitary and political organizations during the Third Reich. This was the standard cloth headgear worn as a part of the service uniform. Visor caps were worn outdoors as well as indoors, and were often required to be worn by all personnel on duty. Visor caps were made in versions specific to each organization and were often further differentiated through the use of insignia, colored piping, or style of chin cord, to indicate rank, role or branch. The insignia used on these caps ranged from simple stamped metal emblems, to elaborate hand embroidery. Visor caps were issued to enlisted soldiers and NCOs in the military and in some other organizations. Officers had to purchase their own hats, and lower ranks could choose to purchase caps that were of a higher quality than the rather basic, issue examples. The private purchase caps were generally made in very high quality, with fine materials. A wide variety of fabrics were used, from Trikot and doeskin, to heavy wool, or even lightweight white fabric for summer wear. In the military, issue of these caps was generally suspended shortly after the outbreak of the war, but they continued to be worn by some troops until the end of the war.