Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Feuerschutzpolizei Fire Protection Police EM/NCO Schirmmütze visor cap by Peter Küpper under the Peküro label, measuring approximately 57cm. This company was a "Top Five" maker during the WWII period, up there with EREL and Wilhelm Welhausen, and caps made by them were desirable then as they are now. It is a high quality early style cap constructed from navy blue worsted wool with a wide black velvet band, three rows of Karminrot carmine red piping for the Fire Protection Police, and its original crown stiffener still in place.

The cap is decorated with the correct early pattern police insignia, including an Ordnungspolizei wreathed eagle on the band and a metal tricolor cockade above with its red felt center still present. Both insignia show an attractive aged patina and remain firmly attached. A 1936 dated HJ donation tinnie has also been attached to the front right side of the band.

The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather look upper surface with age related checking, crazing, edge wear, and some chipping. The underside is finished in checkered brown. One end of the visor has pulled partially free from the cap seam and is now loose. The black EM/NCO chinstrap remains present and is secured by the correct black enamel buttons.

The interior retains its oilcloth crown lining and complete celluloid diamond sweat shield. Beneath the shield are the Peküro maker and retailer markings in silver:

PREISGEKRÖNTE
Peküro Mütze
STIRNDRUCKFREI
Deutsches Reichs-Patent

H Mandelartz
AACHEN

Preisgekrönte indicates “award winning,” while Stirndruckfrei translates approximately as “forehead pressure free,” referring to the cap’s comfort oriented construction. No size marking is visible, but the cap measures approximately 57cm with a hat sizer.

Exterior condition is very good, with strong color retention, attractive patina to the insignia, and only light wear and worked in dust. The interior shows more significant age related deterioration: the oilcloth lining is torn through on the right side with additional small tears developing along the upper edge, and much of the stitching around its circumference has pulled loose. A black velvet spacer between the lining and cap band has become completely detached across the front half, and there appear to be older attempts to stabilize some of this interior damage.

With its Peküro maker markings, carmine red Fire Protection Police piping, early police insignia, intact crown stiffener, complete sweat shield, attached 1936 HJ donation tinnie, and measured 57cm size, this is a strong example of a German WWII Feuerschutzpolizei EM/NCO visor cap. The loose visor edge, oilcloth liner tears, pulled stitching, detached velvet spacer, and prior stabilization work are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in a German police headgear, Fire Protection Police, Peküro visor cap, EM/NCO uniform, or advanced German WWII headgear collection.

More on the Fire Protection Police:

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 Feuerschutzpolizei, (Fire Protection Police). As a result of this appointment and the restructuring of all the separate German state police into a single national police force new regulations were instituted on June 25TH 1936 to bring about uniformity in dress for all police through-out the country. The Police were divided into eight assorted branches of service with each branch being assigned a specific identifying, Truppenfarbe, (branch of service color), with the Feuerschutzpolizei being allocated carmine truppenfarbe. The Feuerschutzpolizei were further distinguished from the other police branches of service with blue uniforms and headgear instead of the typical police green uniforms.