Original Item: Only One Available. This cap is a fantastic excellent condition example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Army Officer Schirmmütze visor cap. It features the typical felgrau (field gray) wool gabardine construction with a forest green “badge cloth” band and a traditional high forward crown. The also has matching Weiß (white) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band. This is the Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for the Infanterie (Infantry) and Motorisiert Infanterie (Motorized Infantry). It has the correct bullion chin strap, indicating that it is for an officer. The crown stiffener is still present, so the original shape is well retained.
It is decorated with a well detailed aluminum eagle insignia on the peak and an open silvered aluminum wreath surrounding a tri-color cockade on the band. The cockade still retains the bright red felt center inlay, and the silvering on the insignia is all in fantastic condition. The chin strap is attached with the standard pebbled silvered buttons on either side of the cap. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, show almost no wear of any kind, and is tan on the underside. The tan leather sweatband is in fantastic shape, with all of the stitching intact, and shows only light wear. The only issue is that the red foam leather under the forehead area has become brittle over the decades.
The cap is lined with lovely cream rayon faux silk, and still retains the full celluloid diamond sweat shield in the crown. Under this it still bears the complete maker name and address information:
(Trademark Logo)
Sonder-Klasse
Höchstleistung deutscher Arbeit
Uniformmützen
Bruno Görlich
Berlin NW. 40
Rathenower Strasse 8
The additional text over the maker name and address basically translates to “Special Class Top Peformance German Work Uniform Hats”. There is no size marking, but it seems to be about a 59cm / 7 3/8 US.
Condition of the crap is really fantastic, and it shows only minors signs of use. There are some stains on the crown area, but they look to possibly be from storage, and there is no mothing that we can see. If you were looking for a great looking example, this is it!
A great example of the classic hat worn by German Wehrmacht Infantry 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.