Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Heer Army Infantry officer Schirmmütze visor cap manufactured by Robert Lubstein of Berlin under their desirable EREL Extra label. This company was a "Top Five" maker during the WWII period, up there with Peküro and Wilhelm Welhausen, and caps made by them were desirable then as they are now. It is constructed from field gray Feldgrau whipcord wool with a dark bottle green Flaschengrün badge cloth band, white Weiß Infantry piping, silver bullion officer chin cords, and hand embroidered aluminum bullion insignia. The crown stiffener has been removed, giving the cap its pronounced saddle form profile. The cap measures approximately 57 1/2cm.

The cap body is made from fine field gray whipcord wool with a traditional high forward crown and dark bottle green center band. White Waffenfarbe piping runs around the upper crown and along both edges of the band, identifying the Infantry branch.

The front is fitted with a hand embroidered aluminum bullion Heer eagle above an open oak leaf and acorn wreath, also worked in aluminum bullion, surrounding a plated metal tricolor cockade. The insignia remain in very good condition with light wear and oxidation to the bullion. The cockade has developed an aged patina, while the red felt center remains vibrant.

The crown eagle has been restitched at some point, with the later stitching passing through the interior lining.

The silver bullion officer chin cords are secured by standard silvered pebbled side buttons and remain in very good condition. The Vulkanfiber visor has a smooth black leather look upper surface and a checkered beige underside. The black upper finish shows age related crazing and checking, along with edge wear, denting, and pressure marks from the chin cords.

The interior is lined in cream colored satin rayon faux silk, with ribbed material along the sides. The lining shows only light staining and service wear.

The diamond shaped celluloid crown sweatshield remains fully intact, with only minor stitch pulling. The original silver printed maker information has disappeared, but the underlying impressed lettering remains crisp enough to read:

OFFIZIER
KLEIDERKASSE
BERLIN
(EREL)
BERLIN
SonderKlasse
[Extra]

The natural colored leather sweatband remains in very good condition, showing only light wear and no major cracking, tears, or structural damage.

The cap measures approximately:

57 1/2cm

Overall condition is very good with strong color retention and an attractive saddle form profile. There is, however, significant moth damage, especially to the dark bottle green badge cloth band. Scattered holes are present throughout, and portions of the rear band beneath the crown have been eaten through completely. Additional moth damage affects the white piping and several areas along the edges of the crown.

With its EREL Extra manufacture, white Infantry piping, hand embroidered officer bullion insignia, silver bullion chin cords, intact sweatshield, and pronounced saddle form crown, this is a strong Heer Infantry officer visor cap despite the notable moth damage. The restitched eagle, visor crazing and denting, stitch pulling at the sweatshield, scattered piping damage, and substantial loss to the badge cloth band are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Heer Infantry, EREL headgear, officer uniform, or advanced German WWII visor cap collection.

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.