{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-luftwaffe-1937-dated-flakkorps-unit-marked-em-nco-schirmmutze-visor-cap-by-leparo-leonhard-paulig-size-56","title":"Original German WWII Luftwaffe 1937 Dated Flakkorps Unit Marked EM\/NCO Schirmmütze Visor Cap by LEPARO Leonhard Paulig - Size 56","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Luftwaffe \u003cem\u003eFlakkorps\u003c\/em\u003e (Flak Artillery branch) EM\/NCO \u003cem\u003eSchirmmütze\u003c\/em\u003e Visor Cap, manufactured by Leonhard Paulig under the LEPARO label, a well-known maker of wartime headgear. It still has the original crown stiffener installed, so the sides have not sunken down over the years, giving it a gently \"relaxed\" look. It is fabricated in Luftwaffe \u003cem\u003eFliegerblau\u003c\/em\u003e (Flier's Blue) \"doeskin\" weave grey blue wool, with wide ribbed black wool cap band, plus three rows of deep red (\u003cem\u003etiefrot\u003c\/em\u003e) color piping around the circumference. This is the Luftwaffe \u003cem\u003eWaffenfarbe\u003c\/em\u003e (corps color) for Anti-aircraft troops and other Artillery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe peak visor cap retains an excellent, high quality, early pattern aluminum Luftwaffe \"Droop-Tail\" eagle pin with swas, and an aluminum oak leaf wreath with stylized wings and central painted tri-color cockade on the band. Chinstrap and buttons are still present and in very good condition, though there is some degradation to the finish of the leather, which happens over time. The visor is a classic vulcanfibre construction example, matte pattern with age crazing and some degradation on the top. The underside is a nice green color, and the original edge trim is fully present and in very good condition. There is however a bit of a bend on the right side of the visor, and the left end has started to come apart from the body of the cap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe visor cap has a light brown color light canvas \"service cloth\" interior lining, with the celluloid moisture shield is fully intact, as is the stitching. There are still visible maker markings under the shield, which are fully legible:-\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e56\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e— LEPARO —\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFabrikmarke\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e(Visor Cap Logo)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLeonhard Paulig\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRothenburg Oder\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tan sweatband is in very good condition, showing light use with the leather still supple, and just a bit of tearing where the visor meets the body of the cap. The red foam rubber under the perforated forehead area is disintegrating due to age, so it should be handled with care. The underside of the sweatband is marked with a date of 2. 10. 37, and there is also a clear Luftwaffe Flakkorps marking:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eI. \/ Fl. R. 7\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis would be for the 1st Company \/ Battery of Luftwaffe Flak Regiment 7, which was part of the 15st Flak Division during most of WW2, later going to the 17th and 10th Flak Divisions. We found this service history of the unit online: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ww2.dk\/ground\/flak\/flargt7.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eFlak-Regiment 7\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall exterior condition is very nice showing only light wear to the wool, with just a few moth nips here and there. The colors are well retained, and the insignia are still bright and shiny. Really a fantastic looking cap!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a great totally honest lightly used Luftwaffe FLAK EM\/NCO peaked visor cap, ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA flak corps (German: Flakkorps)\u003c\/strong\u003e was a massed anti-aircraft (AA) artillery formation employed by the Luftwaffe for anti-aircraft, antitank, and fire support operations in World War II. A Flakkorps was a flexible organization that was made up of a varying number of AA regiments, brigades, or divisions. A total of six flak corps were organized by Germany during the war. The flak corps, while mainly intended to support ground units with concentrated anti-aircraft fire, in many cases provided also antitank support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlak corps did not exist before World War II. Until the end of war Germany eventually organized a total of six flak corps, being numbered I - VI, plus one short-lived special flak corps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlak corps I and II were formed on 3 October 1939. They grouped previously existing mobile AA battalions so as to overwhelmingly concentrate their firepower at points of decision on the battlefield. The original two flak corps were used in the Battle of France in 1940, and later inactivated. They were reorganized for the German invasion of Russia and fought for the remainder of the war on the Eastern Front. The I Flak Corps was destroyed at Stalingrad and later formed again.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe III Flak Corps was formed in February 1944 and fought on the Western Front. In total, III Flak Corps entered combat in Normandy with 27 heavy batteries, 26 light batteries and some 12,000 men. During the fighting in Normandy in 1944, the III Flak Corps was motorized although not all authorized vehicles were present. It was eventually destroyed in the Ruhr Pocket in April 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe IV Flak Corps was formed in July 1944 and supported Army Group G on the Western Front until it surrendered in May 1945.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe V Flak Corps was formed in November 1944 and fought in Hungary and Austria.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe VI Flak Corps was formed in February 1945 and fought in northern Germany in support of the 1st Parachute Army.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe flak corps \"for special employment\" (Flakkorps z.b.V.) was organized in 1945 to control V-weapons.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe German Schirmmütze Visor Cap:\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eThe visor cap (\u003cem\u003eSchirmmütze\u003c\/em\u003e) 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45180240265285,"sku":"ONJR26JURA107","price":695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/09645D2F-40B3-4AC7-AD36-454A5FF3FB1E.jpg?v=1781891037","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-luftwaffe-1937-dated-flakkorps-unit-marked-em-nco-schirmmutze-visor-cap-by-leparo-leonhard-paulig-size-56","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}