Original Item: Only One Available. The NSDAP or Nationalsozialistische Deutsche ArbeiterPartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), was originally founded in Munich as the DAP, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (German Worker’s Party), on January 5TH 1919. When Adolf AH joined the DAP in the autumn of 1919 he was to reform what was basically a debating society into an active political party. Appointed as the first chairman of the party on July 29TH 1921, AH was to restructure it along para-military lines in a hierarchy.

This new NSDAP structure consisted of four ascending levels of government: the Ortsgruppenleitung (Local group leadership), the Kreisleitung (District leadership), the Gauleitung (Regional District leadership), and the Reichsleitung (National leadership). Each group was distinguished by a specific color of piping on the collar tabs and visor cap. From 1936 to 1939 in this scheme, light blue was for the Ortsgruppe level, black for Kreis level, burgundy red for Gau level, and gold yellow for the Reich level. After that the Kreis level changed to white piping.

This is very nice service used example of a rare German WWII NSDAP Ortsgruppe (Local Group) Level Political Leader's Visor Cap in an approximate size of 58cm. Very similar to the military issue Schirmmütze (Peaked Cap), these were usually referred to as a Dienstmütze (Service Cap) or Tuchmütze (Cloth Cap). The cap shows high quality fabrication, made from tan "whipcord woven" wool fabric, and a traditional high front. The cap has the typical triple piping around the circumference, the light blue for the Ortsgruppe level leader. The cap band is a lovely dark tan velvet material.

It is decorated with a well detailed stamped brass gilt spread-wing NSDAP Reichsadler (national eagle) insignia on the front, and an open cast metal gilt oak leaf wreath surrounding a metal tri-color cockade on the velvet band. The cockade has a small swas (hook cross) in the middle, only seen on these party leadership caps. The eagle and the cockade are in very good condition, showing only minor plating loss and oxidation, while the wreath still looks fantastic, due to the different base material.

It has a wonderful gold bullion cord "chinstrap", attached to the cap by pebbled aluminum buttons that have lost their gold wash, indicating that this cap is for an Officer / Leader. It does show overall oxidation, and there is some tearing near the left hand retaining button. The visor / peak on this cap is dark brown finished "vulcanfibre", the standard material for NCOs and Officers alike, with a brown underside.

The cap is lined with cream colored rayon fabric, and still has a fully intact diamond celluloid sweat shield, though the marking on it is somewhat worn. There is no size marking on the interior, but there is a mostly intact ((RZM)) label at the rear, which identifies this as a TUCHMÜTZE, and gives the Hersteller (Supplier) number 79 with issue number B 056818. The cap originally had a leather sweatband, however it is now 95% missing, and what remains is in very delicate condition.

The cap is in very good exterior condition overall, with some light staining on the top of the crown, as well as some small holes. The piping has also suffered mothing, which is present on all three rows. The velvet band is in very good condition are are the insignia. These caps are very rare, and this is the first example that we have been able to locate in some time. In fine condition, this cap is ready to display!