{"product_id":"original-german-pre-wwii-drkb-kyffhauser-veterans-association-officer-visor-cap-with-soldatenbund-eagle-measured-size-55cm","title":"Original German Pre-WWII DRKB Kyffhäuser Veterans Association Officer Visor Cap with Soldatenbund Eagle, Measured Size 55cm","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive early German pre-WWII \u003cem\u003eDeutscher Reichskriegerbund Kyffhäuser\u003c\/em\u003e veterans association officer's \u003cem\u003eSchirmmütze\u003c\/em\u003e, or visor cap, fitted with an earlier pattern \u003cem\u003eSoldatenbund\u003c\/em\u003e cap eagle and measuring approximately \u003cstrong\u003e55cm\u003c\/strong\u003e. The cap retains its dark navy blue doeskin wool body, embroidered Kyffhäuser patterned cap band, gilt oak leaf wreath, bullion officer chinstrap, original interior organizational markings, and natural leather sweatband. The combination of early Soldatenbund insignia with DRKB Kyffhäuser features gives this example especially interesting transitional character and considerable research appeal.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eSoldatenbund\u003c\/em\u003e (Registered Soldier’s League) was an early Veteran's association founded in 1936, which proved to be very short lived. Two years later in 1938 it was merged with the DRKB Kyffhäuserbund as part of the NSDAP-ification of that organization, forming the National Socialist Veteran's Association, which would be the only approved veteran's organization until the fall of the NSDAP in 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap is constructed from dark navy blue doeskin weave wool with a black ribbed rayon band and a traditional high forward crown. It does not appear to have any colored branch piping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOf particular interest, the cap band is woven in a BeVo style pattern incorporating repeated hook crosses and Kyffhäuserbund shields. These details are relatively subtle and can be difficult to see clearly in photographs, but they add considerable visual and organizational interest to the cap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe front of the crown is fitted with a silvered aluminum \u003cem\u003eSoldatenbund\u003c\/em\u003e eagle. The emblem combines the national eagle with crossed swords and an Iron Cross, a pattern associated with the short lived Soldatenbund veterans organization of the mid 1930s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe presence of this earlier style eagle on a cap otherwise associated with the DRKB Kyffhäuser is an intriguing feature. Similar combinations are known, and it may indicate continued use of earlier Soldatenbund insignia after organizational consolidation, although without provenance we cannot determine exactly when or why this eagle was fitted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap band carries an open gilt brass oak leaf and acorn wreath surrounding an embroidered early DRKB Iron Cross emblem. The center of the Iron Cross contains the silhouette of the Kyffhäuser Monument, a distinctive symbol closely associated with the veterans organization.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA silver bullion chinstrap is fitted across the front and is consistent with officer or higher official quality headgear. Detailed rank structures within the various veterans organizations can be difficult to reconstruct with certainty, so we would not assign a more specific grade from the chinstrap alone.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe visor is constructed from pressed \u003cem\u003eVulkanfibre\u003c\/em\u003e with a smooth black leather look upper surface and black underside. The upper finish shows age related wear, crazing, and checking that has developed into an attractive cracked texture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe visor edge retains its faux patent leather stitched trim, which remains complete and in very good condition. The visor itself is still firmly attached to the cap body.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interior crown is lined in brown oilcloth, while the sides are finished in beige service cloth type material. There is only light staining toward the rear center.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no celluloid sweat shield present and no obvious evidence that one was previously installed. Instead, the crown lining is silver embossed with the organizational identification above a shield bearing the image of the Kyffhäuser Monument:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eDeutſcher\u003cbr\u003eReichskriegerbund\u003cbr\u003eKyffhäuſer\u003cbr\u003e(geſ.-geſchützt)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have preserved the wording exactly as it appears in the supplied description.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnder the right side of the sweatband is an additional tag reading:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eD.R.K.B. „Kyffhäuser“\u003cbr\u003eMütze          \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe remainder of the tag is obscured by the sweatband, so the supplier or issue number cannot presently be read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe natural leather sweatband is sewn to a velvet plush spacer that is in turn attached to the cap body. The sweatband remains in very good condition overall and shows only light staining.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side is marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eStirndruckfrei Deutches Reichspatent\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is also a small oval \u003cstrong\u003eSt\u003c\/strong\u003e plaque, a feature often associated with an ownership or identification marking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap measures approximately \u003cstrong\u003e55cm\u003c\/strong\u003e internally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall condition is very good, showing only light service wear. We do not see any significant moth damage, major repairs, or structural issues. The dark navy blue wool, elaborate woven cap band, silvered Soldatenbund eagle, gilt wreath, embroidered Kyffhäuser emblem, bullion chinstrap, and marked interior all remain highly presentable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the collector of German veterans organization headgear, this is a particularly interesting prewar example because it combines clearly marked DRKB Kyffhäuser construction with an earlier Soldatenbund style eagle. Its measured \u003cstrong\u003e55cm\u003c\/strong\u003e size, strong exterior condition, embroidered organizational details, officer quality chinstrap, and extensive interior markings make it a compelling piece for a collection focused on prewar German veterans associations and their evolving insignia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eKyffhäuserbund\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e (English: Kyffhäuser League) is an umbrella organization for war veterans' and reservists' associations in Germany, founded in 1900 to unify the various veteran's groups in Germany. It owes its name to the Kyffhäuser Monument (German: \u003cem\u003eKyffhäuserdenkmal\u003c\/em\u003e), a memorial built on the summit of the 473 m high Kyffhäuser mountain near Bad Frankenhausen, in the state of Thuringia in central Germany. It was not a political affiliated organization, and was open to all German war veterans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the National Socialist party came into party however, as with all national organizations, the group was absorbed under the NSDAP umbrella. In the name of Gleichschaltung (Co-Ordination or NSDAPfication), the Kyffhäuserbund was after the NSDAP takeover of power in 1933. Five years later, its name was altered to \u003cem\u003eNS-Reichskriegerbund ‘Kyffhäuser’ e.V.\u003c\/em\u003e (National Socialist Reich Warriors Association ‘Kyffhäuser‘ - NSRKB), becoming the sole and exclusive organization representing the Veterans´ interests in the Third Reich. The organization would then be disbanded in March of 1943 and its members would be drafted into Volksturm service in 1945, as the fall of WWII Germany approached.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe German Schirmmütze Visor Cap:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46075649359941,"sku":"ONSV26CC132","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/1693EE5C-93BD-4356-82AB-9B2542E9DA21.jpg?v=1792610117","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-pre-wwii-drkb-kyffhauser-veterans-association-officer-visor-cap-with-soldatenbund-eagle-measured-size-55cm","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}