Original Item: Only One Available. The Soldatenbund (Registered Soldier’s League) was an early Veteran's association founded in 1936, which proved to be very short lived. Two years later in 1938 it was merged with the Kyffhäuserbund as part of the NSDAP-ification of that organization, forming the National Socialist Veteran's Association, which would be the only approved veteran's organization until the fall of the NSDAP in 1945.

This cap is a very nice example of an early pattern German WWII Kyffhäusermütze visor cap, which definitely varies a bit from the examples we have seen before. There definitey appears to be significant variation of the caps issued for the National Socialist veteran's association, particularly early after the merger, and this example still retains the original distinctive Soldatenbund style cap eagle and Army style wreath insignia, however they are in gold, not silver, possibly to indicate Naval service.

This example is in very good condition, showing light use during service. It features very dark navy blue (or possibly black) construction a traditional high forward crown, and there is no crown stiffener, giving it a lovely swept back "crushed" shape. The cap band is a lovely BeVO embroidered style in black, which has embroidered Iron Cross and DRKB Kyffhäuser monument in a shield emblems alternating around the circumference. There is no troop color piping around the band and crown, probably because we believe it is for a Naval veteran.

It is decorated with a gold washed aluminum Soldatenbund cap eagle on the peak, which features the Reichsadler National Eagle surmounted by crossed swords and an Iron Cross. The cap band is decorated with an open gold washed zinc alloy oak leaf and acorn wreath surrounding an oxidized zinc tri-color cockade on the band. The insignia are still in great shape, retaining most of the gold wash, and the red felt insert inside the cockade is present and vibrant. 

The dual-buckled soft plastic chinstrap, designating the wearer to be an enlisted man, is in excellent condition and attached to black lacquered buttons on either side. The cap has a thick fiber material or plastic visor with a black gloss "patent leather" finish, and has black flexible plastic faux leather trim. There is some checking and degradation to the finish, on the body of the visor, which we often see.

The inside of the cap is lined with blue rayon twill fabric on the top and sides, which shows staining on the crown. The top plastic shield is still mostly present, with the stitching mostly intact, and underneath are still the complete original markings:

1786
(Kyffhäuser Logo)
(Iron Cross Logo)
Kyffhäusermütze
(name tag)
GESETZLICH
GESCHÜTZT
40

This looks to have been a cap made per Kyffhauserbund regulations, but the eagle on front is definitely from the Soldatenbund. It may be that the wearer used that insignia to identify that they were originally part of that organization. "Gesetzlich Geschützt" (By-law Protected) indicates that the cap is a protected design. There is a nametag in the slot on the shield, however we have not been able to read what it says accurately. The leather sweatband is in excellent condition, with no major degradation of the stitching or the leather. Size seems to be about a 57-58cm.

The cap is in very good shape, showing only light wear. A great example of an early German WWII veteran's association cap with some great research potential. Ready to display!

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.