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 much more green in the dye mix. The band is a lovely forest green color matching the piping, which is a bit darker than the flaschengrün (dark bottle-green) used by the Heer. The cap has had the crown stiffener removed, which has given it the fantastic "saddle form" crushed shape that everybody loves.

It is decorated with a well detailed silvered stamped bronze eagle insignia on the front crown, which faces to the right, so it may have been replaced, as forestry eagles usually face to the left. There is also a very nice silvered aluminum forestry oak leaf wreath surrounding an aluminum tri-color cockade on the band. This wreath is far wider than the standard Heer style, correct for the forestry service. The insignia overall look great, and the red felt insert is still vibrant and undamaged. The cap features a very good 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 checking, giving it almost a "cracked mud" appearance, only possible after many long years. The cap is lined with a brown cotton rayon blend, similar to what is used to line tunics. It shows very little staining or wear, and the celluloid sweat shield diamond on the top is almost fully intact, with complete stitching. We checked, and we were not able to find any maker or size markings on the interior.

The sweatband is brown finished leather, which is still relatively supple with intact stitching holding it to the body of the cap. There is a tear all the way through on the left side, and there is also a small partial tear at the rear of the cap. Size seems to be about a 57-58cm.

Overall condition is very good, showing light to moderate wear during the war, and no real moth damage that we can see. 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.