Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Luftwaffe officer visor cap fitted with a lightweight white summer crown. Constructed in the style of a combination cap, the removable crown allowed the cap to be adapted for seasonal wear. The white fabric has an attractive diamond weave, and the absence of a crown stiffener gives the cap a desirable crushed saddle form.

The lower portion is constructed with remnants of the original Luftwaffe blue gray Fliegerblau, or flyer’s blue, wool visible beneath the lower band. A wide band of black ribbed wool encircles the cap and is bordered above and below by fine silver bullion officer piping. There is no bullion piping around the removable white crown.

The front of the crown bears a bullion embroidered Luftwaffe eagle. This eagle appears to have been replaced at some point and is currently secured with tack stitching and adhesive. Below it is a high relief bullion embroidered oak leaf wreath with stylized wings and a silver bullion tricolor cockade. The red felt center remains present and retains strong color. Both insignia show light wear and staining but remain in very good overall condition.

The visor is made from standard black vulcanized fiber with a glossy upper surface. It shows an appealing pattern of light age related checking and crazing. The black imitation leather edge trim remains almost completely intact, which is notable, as this material is frequently found broken or partially missing. There are no splits in the trim, though some of the securing stitches have pulled loose. The underside of the visor has a checkered green finish, and the visor remains firmly attached to the body of the cap.

Above the visor are the correct silver bullion officer chin cords, secured at each side by pebbled buttons. The cords have caused some contact marks on the upper surface of the visor.

The interior is fully lined in cream colored rayon imitation silk. Stitching near the cap band has failed in several areas, leaving the lining partially detached. The clear plastic sweat shield diamond remains present and mostly intact, though it has a small tear and has pulled loose around much of its circumference.

The original maker and retailer marking remains visible beneath the sweat shield and reads:

Verkaufsabteilung
der
Luftwaffe
BERLIN S W 68
Puttkamerstr. 16-18

Erstklassig

Verkaufsabteilung der Luftwaffe translates as “Luftwaffe Sales Department,” while Erstklassig translates as “First Class.”

The original natural leather sweatband remains in place and is still supple, with no apparent dry rot. It shows a small tear near the upper edge on the left side. No additional markings are visible. Measurement with a hat sizing tool indicates an approximate size of 57cm. We did note a faint Clemens Wagner marking on the underside of the sweatband, so they may have supplied this part to the Luftwaffe.

The removable white crown shows age toning and staining, both of which are commonly encountered on white summer headgear. No holes are apparent, and the crown remains firmly fitted to the cap body, though it can be removed as intended. The black cap band shows some fading, while the blue wool at the lower edge has light wear and one small hole.

With its removable diamond weave summer crown, bullion officer insignia and piping, intact chin cords, maker marked lining, original leather sweatband, and appealing crushed profile, this is a distinctive and well preserved example of Luftwaffe officer summer headgear. The replaced eagle, age toning, minor fabric loss, and interior stitching issues are fully visible, while the cap retains the character and completeness sought by collectors of German WWII aviation uniforms, officer headgear, and visor caps.

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.