Original Item: Only One available. This is an excellent condition Feuerschutzpolizei, (Fire Protection Police) NCO/EM Schirmmütze Visor Cap, which is size marked 54 on the crown. The has a very nice condition oil cloth lining, which is marked clearly:
54
EINER FÜR ALLE
(FIRE POLICE LOGO)
ALLE FÜR EINER
This motto translates to the classic ‘All for one. One for All”, and there are no other markings indicating the maker. This is a mid-level quality German made cap, which is most likely intended more for an Enlisted Man than an NCO. It is fabricated from what looks to be black or very dark navy blue worsted wool cloth, with wide black wool cap band, plus two rows of saddle carmine red (karminrot) color piping around the circumference. This is the Protection Police Truppenfarbe troop color) for the Fire branch. It still has the top stiffener, which helps it retain the round shape.
Cap is decorated with the correct insignia, including the Schutzpolizei wreathed eagle on the band, with the classic Tri-color cockade above, with a red felt insert. Both are in good shape, though the eagle is missing one of the two clips, so it can fall out of place.
The visor is the classic black color, made of pressed paper, with a maroon underside. The sweatband is tan oilcloth faux leather, and is somewhat stiff due to age. It does not have any major wear or damage we can see, though the top stiffener has worn through at one point on the edge.
A very nice and colorful cap, ready to add to your collection!
More on the Fire Protection Police:
On June 17TH 1936, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler was appointed to the newly created position of Chef der Deutschen Polizei im Reichsministerium des Innern (Chief of the German Police in the National Ministry of the Interior), effectively giving him full control of all police agencies within Germany including the Feuerschutzpolizei, (Fire Protection Police). As a result of this appointment and the restructuring of all the separate German state police into a single national police force new regulations were instituted on June 25TH 1936 to bring about uniformity in dress for all police through-out the country. The Police were divided into eight assorted branches of service with each branch being assigned a specific identifying, Truppenfarbe, (branch of service color), with the Feuerschutzpolizei being allocated carmine truppenfarbe. The Feuerschutzpolizei were further distinguished from the other police branches of service with blue uniforms and headgear instead of the typical police green uniforms.