Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Army Officer Schirmmütze visor cap, and it really looks the business. It features the typical green wool gabardine construction with a forest green band and a traditional high forward crown. The also has matching Hochrot (Deep Red) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, the Corps Color (Waffenfarbe) for Artillery, as well as General Level Officers. It has the correct silver bullion chin strap, indicating that it is for an officer.

It is decorated with a well detailed embroidered silver bullion eagle insignia on the peak and and an open embroidered silver bullion wreath surrounding a tri-color cockade on the band. This indicates early issue, as later caps moved to cast or stamped aluminum insignia to decrease production time. The chin strap is attached with the standard pebbled buttons on either side of the cap. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, exhibiting minimal wear along the edge and is beige on the underside.

The brown sweatband is high quality faux leather, similar to oilcloth but thicker. It does look like the original stitching has rotted out in many places, and it was later re-stitched.

The inside of the cap is lined with light green sheer fabric, most likely made from rayon. It is now stained overall due to wear and sweat. The top plastic shield is almost fully intact, with just a small chunk missing from one side and a few small cracks. The stitching is fully intact, however there is unfortunately no maker name or logo on the crown.

Condition is very good, showing light wear from service and use. There is a stitched repair in the rear under the crown, and there looks to have been moth damage in areas, which was repaired with the correct fabric. The bullion insignia are in great shape, without the oxidation that we often see, which turns the silver color white.

From what we can tell, this cap is about a size 58.

A very nice example of a classic hat worn by German Army Artillery 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.