Original Item: Only One Available. During the Pre-WWII years in Germany, virtually all aspects of the government fell under control of the NSDAP, and the Forestry service was no exception. Germany has a long tradition of hunting, and has many famous forest areas throughout the country. The government set up an office of forestry to help manage the natural resources. Upon the arrival of the Third Reich, forestry uniforms were outfitted with swas symbols, resulting in items like this Forestry Official Schirmmütze (Peaked Cap).

The design of the caps were not nearly as standardized as the Army or Airforce, so the colors used could vary from gray to green, to black for the band. What remained the same for all however was the dark "forest green" piping used around the top of the crown, and around the central band. This example has a lovely "whipcord" weave body, which is a gray green color, similar to the Heer Army feldgrau, but definitely with more green. The band is a lovely forest green color matching the piping, which is a bit lighter than the flaschengrün (dark bottle-green) used by the Heer. The cap still retains the crown stiffener, which is designed to give it the fantastic "saddle form" shape that it has.

The insignia on this cap are both the early fully hand embroidered aluminum bullion type, and are in excellent condition. The peak eagle is woven onto a forest green background, as is the oak leaf wreath, which is much wider than the Heer version, extending with further leaves on both sides, unique to the forestry service. In the center is a metal cockade, which looks to be patinated aluminum. The insignia overall look great, and the red felt insert is worn but still vibrant. The cap features an excellent condition silver bullion chinstrap attached by pebbled silver buttons, indicating an Officer or equivalent rank in the Forestry Service.

The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, exhibiting just a bit of wear along the edge and is checkered beige on the underside. The top shows a lovely pattern of very fine crazing to the gloss enamel finish. The cap is linted with beautiful cream colored rayon faux silk, which shows just a bit of staining towards the rear, and no gearing or major damage. The celluloid sweat shield diamond on the top is fully intact, with complete stitching, and is marked with the maker / retailer information:

Uniform-fabrik
W. Michovius
Cottbus
Gegr. 1843

This is a known supplier to the forestry service, and we have seen the Cottbus logo on many forestry service hirschfänger dress cutlasses. "Gegr." is short for Gegründet (Founded), indicating the company was founded in 1843. The sweatband is natural leather, and in excellent condition. It is still supple with no tears and only very minor staining. The stitching is fully intact, and it is embossed with Strindruckfrei / D.R.G.M. 1419504, indicating that it is a "forehead pressure free" design protected by a German patent.

Overall condition is very good, showing only light wear, though there are some small moth holes on the crown and cap band. The inside is really in fantastic shape, probably one of the best liners we have seen in some time. Size seems to be about a 57-58cm.

A lovely example of a classic hat worn by German Forestry Service Officers during WWII.

The Forstverein (Forestry Association) was a civil union, founded in 1899, whose members were either Foresters or Forest owners and was founded to give more "power" to their interests when dealing with the Governments of the states or the Reich. Their "targets" were mainly economical with some "spreads" of caring for nature and forests. The aim of the association was: to take care of the German forest, the promotion of forest economy and science and the exchange of personal ideas. After the NSDAP took over Germany, the various Forestry Groups were folded under the NSDAP umbrella.

The Forstschutzkommando (FSK), or simply Forstschutz was a uniformed and armed para-military security formation raised in late 1939. Composed of some 10,000 volunteers, it was recruited from forestry officials and forest workers and headed by Landesforstmeister Ernst Boden. Hermann Göring, as the Reichsforstmeister, was its "supreme commander".

After having received brief training, the first 2,000 so-called Forstschützen were put into action in wooded areas in occupied Poland. Here, they provided security for lumber transports and -storage places and sawmills, as well as being employed to combat wood-thieves and poachers and to arrest "unauthorized" persons in the forests. They were authorized to use firearms in the case of resistance or attempted escapes.

In July 1941, the Forstschutz took charge of the Bialowies forest, a former hunting ground of the Czar and important area for the lumber industry. The civilian population was evacuated from Göring's new Reichsforst, with their villages and farms being burnt to the ground and two small Jewish communities being liquidated as well.

In the summer of 1942, Forstschutz units were dispatched to the Reichs Commissariats of "Ostland" and the Ukraine. Here, they were used in anti-partisan operations, suffering significant casualties in the process themselves.

Apart from their original security tasks and anti-partisan operations, Forstschutz personnel were involved in the capture and liquidation of Jews, who had managed to keep from being arrested or who had escaped from Ghettoes and were hiding in the forests. Apparently, Forstschutz men were also actively involved in the liquidation of Jewish Ghettoes if regular SS- and Police forces were not available.

Later, during the large-scale German fighting retreat, Forstschutz units even participated in military combat engagements in an infantry role.