Original Item: Only One Available. After the catastrophic winter of 1941-42 on the Eastern Front, the German military rapidly designed improved cold weather clothing. By the Fall of 1942, a variety of winter fur lined caps (Pelzmütze or Winterfellmütze) had been introduced. There were no standardized "model numbers", but this version is a commonly encountered pattern. It has a fieldgray wool body, which is lined with rayon or cotton fabric, and a visor and fold down ear flaps backed with rabbit fur. The flaps are held in the "up" (open) position by a set of rayon ties. The flaps can be tied under the wearer's chin via cloth ties as well if one desired.

Many owners of these pinned or sewed military insignia to these caps, however this example has a BeVo machine embroidered cap insignia machine stitched to the front, showing a left facing Reichsadler silver bullion eagle over a tri-color cockade on a green background. This is the insignia for the Landzoll (Land Customs) department. During the Pre-WWII years in Germany, virtually all aspects of the government fell under control of the NSDAP, and the Customs service was no exception. We assume this cap would have been used by the Zollgrenzschutz (Land Customs Border Guards), as it definitely would have helped in the winter months on the Eastern Front. The insignia is definitely original to the cap, and only sewn to the outer lay of fabric.

This fine example is offered in excellent condition, with most of the fur intact, and the cotton twill outer lining in great shape. The interior cotton twill lining is in very good shape, showing  light staining from sweat and oil, but no major damage. There is no maker marking or size mark, but it’s roughly a 57-58cm.

These have become very hard to find on the market today and even decent reproductions sell for hundreds of dollars. An excellent example, ready to add to your collection and display!

More on the German Customs Service:
The German Customs Service can be traced back to 1834 when a Customs Union was formed to allow the separate German States to trade amongst themselves without trade and tariff taxes, while still imposing import trade taxes on other European nations. With the unification of the German States into a single nation in 1871 the Customs Service became a national paramilitary organization, under control of the Reichsfinanzministerium, (National Finance Ministry), in Berlin. The national Customs Service was still responsible for imposing and collecting import trade taxes but was also tasked with border defense duties.

In 1936 the Customs Service was reorganized and given further policing responsibilities including the apprehension of individuals attempting to escape from the NSDAP’s yoke. The German Customs service was divided into two separate branches with one branch consisting of the Landzollbeamte (Land Customs Officials), which was subdivided into the Zollgrenzschutz (Land Customs Border Guards), and the Wasserzollbeamte (Water Customs Officials), and the second branch consisting of the remaining Zollbeamte (Customs Officials).

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 Customs service. As a result of this appointment new regulations were instituted, in July 1936, to bring about uniformity in dress and included new insignia for the Customs personnel.