Original German WWII Army Heer Cavalry Officer Schirmmütze Visor Cap Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This cap is a very nice example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Cavalry Officer Schirmmütze visor cap, in very nice lightly worn condition. It features the typical green wool gabardine construction with a forest green band and a traditional high forward crown. The crown stiffener is still present, so it has retained the correct shape. The shape is a bit “squashed” looking because it has taken on a round shape, which has made the visor a bit flat. Placing it on a mannequin head will help it regain the correct shape.

The cap has the correct 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 has the correct silver bullion chin strap, indicating that it is for an officer.

It is decorated with a very nice stamped aluminum eagle insignia on the peak and and an open silver bullion embroidered wreath surrounding a metal tri-color cockade on the band. The red felt insert on the cockade is still present and vibrant, however one of the clips on the peak eagle is missing. The chin strap is attached with the standard silvered buttons on either side of the cap. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, exhibiting light wear along the edge and is light brown on the underside. The sweatband is finished pressed paper, and unfortunately has numerous tears due to how brittle the material becomes over the years. Size is approximately US 7 1/4 (58cm).

The cap is lined with light brown rayon, and the top celluloid sweat shield is fully intact, with most of the stitching still intact as well. Unfortunately there is no maker information or markings of any type on the interior.

Condition of the cap is very good, with the colors retained very well. Placing this on a mannequin head will definitely help it attain the correct shape. There is a bit of wear around the crown, and the stitching on the left side of the crown has pulled out, so there is a hole in that location.

A very nice example of the classic hat worn by German Cavalry Officers in WWII. Very impressive and ready to display!

The German Schirmmütze Visor Cap:
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.