High End Replica Item: Only One Available. After the end of WWII, USGI's brought home a multitude of German WWII items, including all types of medals, awards, and other memorabilia. Among the most sought after items of all were those related to the infamous German SS organization. Their iconography often utilized the iconic Totenkopf Death's Head, a symbol used for centuries in Europe to denote elite units. Within a year or so, there was already booming collector's market for these items, and many dealers were making trips to Germany to bring back masses of militaria for the market.

Original SS items however were quickly exhausted, however the demand still existed, which resulted in items such as this, high end replicas which were often made using some original parts, often repurposed from Non-SS items. These were intended to deceive, and it takes an expert eye to really examine these items to determine whether they are legitimate. We have thoroughly examined this visor, and it is definitely a high end replica.

We believe that most likely this cap began life as a Heer Army Infantry Style Schirmmütze Visor cap, possibly post war manufactured, which was converted to a Waffen SS cap. The cap shows high quality fabrication, made with typical army type feldgrau (Field Gray) green / gray "doeskin" wool. The vulcanfibre front brim also looks like it may be an original period item, but there is no way to truly know, as they continued production post war. The cap also has matching Weiß (white) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band. This is the Waffenfarbe (Corps Color) for Infanterie (Infantry) and Motorisiert Infanterie (Motorized Infantry). The crown stiffener is still present, so the original shape is well retained.

There is no Totenkopf Skull emblem on this cap, which looks to have been removed, probably used on another cap to make it look "more original". The eagle on the peak is held on by thread. The interior of the cap is lined with cream colored rayon, which has the ᛋᛋ doppelte Siegrune (Double Sig/Victory Rune) emblem in blue on the top, with size 56 over it. The sweatshield is completely missing, with some of the stitching remaining. The sweatband is marked with HAND FINISH - EXTRA EXTRA LIGHT.

Condition overall is very good, and it to the untrained eye LOOKS like an original Waffen SS visor cap with some great period wear. But it definitely is a high end replica with possible original parts, intended to deceive collectors on the market. If you were looking for a more economical way to fill a hole in your German WWII collection, this would be it. Offered as is, fully examined and ready to display!

The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf H. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of NSDAP and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.

When WWII began in earnest, the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) (SS Dispositional Troops) became the Waffen-SS ("Armed SS"), an official military branch of the SS organization. Its formations included men from NSDAP ruled Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and unoccupied lands.

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.