Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic and very rare example of a German WWII Generäle (General Officers) Schirmmütze Visor "crush" Cap, with a fantastic saddle form shape. Made with flexible leather visors and no crown reinforcement, these were quite flexible, and easily took on the iconic shape. This is the REAL thing, a true WWII issue "Crush" cap, without any chin strap.

This wonderful crush cap came to us from the American Armoured Foundation, Inc. Tank and Ordnance Memorial Museum. The AAF Tank Museum was a living memorial dedicated to the Tank and Cavalry soldiers of the world. Before 1981 some of the artifacts that make up the AAF Tank Museum was a private collection belonging to Mr. William Gasser. Mr. Gasser felt that his collection would be beneficial in educating present and future generations to the sacrifices made and the technologies gained during war. Therefore, in 1981 the AAF Tank Museum was established as a non-profit charitable organization, and Mr. Gasser's donated his private collection to the Tank Museum. Mr. Gasser is still active as Volunteer Director and Curator of the Tank Museum and his knowledge of military history has been a great asset to the museum. Unfortunately after 20 years of operation it had to close its doors, which is when this cap was acquired.

The wear on this cap gives it a fantastic well broken in look that is impossible to duplicate, and many consider these to be the "true" crusher cap, flexible enough to almost be folded up. It features the typical feldgrau (field gray) "whipcord" weave wool gabardine construction with a forest green "badge cloth" band and a traditional high forward crown. The cap has matching gold bullion piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, indicating the owner was an officer of the General or Field Marshall rank.

It is decorated with a well detailed BeVo style bullion embroidered eagle insignia on the peak and and an open silver BeVo embroidered wreath surrounding a tri-color cockade on the band. The cap does not have a chin strap, and there is no indication that it was made with one. The black leather visor is still in very good shape and supple, showing no cracking in the leather on the top or bottom. It does have the "crazing" and checking that the leather finish acquires over the decades, confirming the age. The brown leather sweatband is in excellent condition, still supple with no cracks or tears that we can see, and the stitching is fully intact. The size of the cap seems to be about a 57-58cm.

The interior is lined with lightweight gray lightweight cotton twill, and does not look to have ever had a sweat shield on the top. This definitely looks to be a bespoke cap, made by a high end tailor for a General in the German army. Overall condition is just lovely, with a fantastic "been there" look, but no major wear or damage. We do not see much in the way of mothing at all, which is definitely rare on a cap of this age that is made from wool.

A great example of the classic hat worn by German Army Generals 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.