Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Luftwaffe Flak Artillery enlisted man and NCO Schirmmütze visor cap, named to “E. Bessar.” Constructed from blue gray whipcord wool with a black cap band and deep red artillery branch piping, it has developed the desirable saddle form or “crusher” profile after removal of the original crown stiffener.

The cap body is made from Luftwaffe Fliegerblau, or flyer’s blue, gray blue whipcord wool. A wide black wool band surrounds the lower body, while three rows of deep red piping follow the crown, upper band, and lower band edges.

This deep red Waffenfarbe, or branch color, identifies Luftwaffe anti-aircraft and artillery personnel.

The upper crown retains an aluminum Luftwaffe eagle insignia perched above a mobile swas. The eagle remains bright and is in excellent condition.

The front band carries a stamped zinc winged oak leaf wreath with an integral painted national tricolor cockade. The wreath has developed a dull gray oxidized patina, while the painted cockade remains well retained.

The original black patent leather chinstrap and both retaining buttons are missing. Their former positions remain visible on the cap band.

The pressed vulcanfibre visor has a glossy black upper surface and stitched edge trim. The upper finish shows extensive age related checking, cracking, and crazing.

The visor edge trim is worn through around much of the perimeter. The securing stitching is also pulling loose in several areas along the edges.

The cap’s crown stiffener has been removed, giving the body its pronounced saddle form. The internal fiber support band has cracked in several places, however, so the cap no longer retains its shape as firmly as it originally would have.

The interior is lined in gray rayon and retains its original transparent plastic sweat shield. The shield shows cracking toward the upper portion and areas where the retaining stitching has separated.

No manufacturer marking is visible. The interior is marked:

Stirndruckfrei
Deutsches Reichspatent

This indicates a patented “forehead pressure free” construction intended to improve comfort during wear.

A small paper name label remains in the interior name slot and is typed:

E. Bessar

No accompanying service records or additional provenance are present, so the cap cannot presently be attributed to a specific individual beyond this surviving name label.

The sweatband is made from gray finished leather and remains supple, with no tears described. A black velvet plush spacer is positioned between the sweatband and the cap body. The leather shows discoloration from age, perspiration, and use, and no markings were found beneath it.

Overall condition is very good for a service worn visor cap, though there are several notable condition issues. The exterior shows general wear and evidence of past repairs. Moth damage is present along portions of the open weave red piping.

The crown also has several holes and areas of fabric damage. Together with the cracked internal support band, this has reduced the cap’s ability to maintain a firm original profile.

With its named E. Bessar label, deep red Flak artillery piping, desirable saddle form, bright aluminum eagle, retained zinc wreath and cockade, patented interior construction, and honest service wear, this is a visually appealing Luftwaffe EM/NCO crusher style visor cap. The missing chinstrap and buttons, visor cracking, worn trim, loose stitching, moth damage, crown holes, cracked internal support, sweat shield damage, and interior discoloration are fully disclosed. It would display particularly well in a Luftwaffe Flak Artillery, German air defense, named headgear, EM/NCO visor cap, or advanced WWII uniform 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.