Original German WWII Heer Army Medical Officer Schirmmütze Visor Crush Cap Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This cap is a very nice service used example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Medical Officer Schirmmütze visor cap. It features the characteristic feldgrau (field gray) “doeskin” wool construction with a forest green “badge cloth” band and a traditional high forward crown. It has however had most of the fuzzy “nap” wear away overall, so the fabric is nowhere near as soft and smooth as it was when made. The crown stiffener has been removed, giving it a lovely “saddle form” crushed shape. It also has matching medizinblau (medical blue) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band. This is the Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for the Sanitätstruppe (Military medical service).

It is decorated with a well detailed silvered cast aluminum eagle insignia on the peak and and an open silver cast aluminum wreath surrounding a tri-color aluminum cockade on the band. The cockade still retains the bright red felt center inlay, showing some light staining. 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 wear and some chipping near the edge, as well as checking and crazing in the gloss black finish. The underside is light tan, and shows moderate wear from use. The light brown leather sweatband is in very good condition, still supple with no tears or other major damage, and partially intact stitching. Size is approximately US 7 1/8 (57cm).

The cap is lined with lovely cream rayon faux silk, which now shows much staining near the front and on the crown, indicating long service. The lining has torn away from the sweatband seam near the rear. The crown still has about 50% of the original celluloid sweat shield diamond present, with the remnants cracked and brittle.

The cap is in overall very good service used condition, with some minor mothing as well as overall staining from use. The “crushed” shape of the cap has somewhat protected the area under the crown, so there the original color and texture of the cap and still be seen.

A very good service used example of the classic hat worn by German Medical 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.