Original Item: Only One Available. This cap is a excellent example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Army NCO / EM visor cap, named to a specific soldier. It features the typical green wool construction with a forest green band and a traditional high forward crown. The also has matching Hochrot (Deep Red) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, the Corps Color (Waffenfarbe) for Artillery, as well as General Level Officers. As this is an EM/NCO cap with a plain chin strap, this is definitely for an Artillery or Heavy Flak soldier.
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 beige on the underside. The brown leather sweatband is in good supple condition and is unmarked.
The inside of the cap is lined with tan sheer fabric. The top plastic shield is fully present, though it has shrunk a bit, pulling the stitching and rippling a bit. It still bears a clear makers name next to the company logo:
E. Breuninger
A.G.
Stuttgart
Stirndruckfrei
The last line translates to “Without Forehead Pressure” so this is a design meant to be comfortable. More importantly, there is a small paper tag with the owner’s name and regiment marked that has been inserted into the shield, however we are not able to fully read it. We leave that as a research project for the collector.
Condition is very good to excellent, with the main issue being deterioration of the chin strap, which looks to have been early rubber or vinyl. It has deteriorated, and is now stuck to the visor. The rest of the cap is simply excellent: the colors are vibrant, there is no moth we can see, and there is little to no wear. From what we can tell, this cap is about a size 56-58.
A great example of a classic hat worn by German Army Artillery NCOs in WWII.