Original German WWII Army Heer Cavalry EM & NCO Schirmmütze Visor Cap – Size 57 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This cap is a very good example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Army Cavalry NCO / EM Schirmmütze visor cap. It features the typical green wool gabardine construction with a forest green band and a traditional high forward crown. The also has matching Goldgelb (Golden Yellow) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, the Corps Color (Waffenfarbe) for Cavalry, as well as reconnaissance and armored reconnaissance units with cavalry traditions.

It is decorated with a well detailed silvered aluminum eagle insignia on the peak and and an open silvered aluminum wreath surrounding a tri-color cockade on the band. The dual-buckled black leather chinstrap, designating the wearer to be an enlisted man, is attached to black lacquered buttons on either side. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, exhibiting wear along the edge and is brown on the underside. The brown leather sweatband is in good supple condition and is unmarked, showing light overall wear, but no tearing.

The inside of the cap is lined with tan fabric, and the top plastic sweat shield is completely missing, with even the stitching gone. Most likely any markings present were on this, and the only marking still visible now is a very faint size 57 marking on the crown.

Condition is very good, with the main issue being deterioration of the chin strap, which is patent leather. Unfortunately over time the enamel degrades and cracks. The rest of the cap is great, with the expected patina of age. The colors are vibrant, there is no major moth we can see, and there is little to no wear.

A great example of a classic hat worn by German Army Cavalry NCOs in WWII.

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.