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. As of 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.

This is nice example of a rare German WWII NSDAP Ortsgruppe (Local Group) Level Political Leader's Visor Cap, fitted with a white canvas cover. 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 under the cover, 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.

The cover is VERY tight on the crown, which has an intact stiffener, so we unfortunately cannot see the insignia underneath it, but we can feel that the metal insignia is still there. The front of the cover is decorated with a lovely hand gold bullion embroidered 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. All are in very good condition, with their plating partly retained.

It has a wonderful gold bullion cord "chinstrap", attached to the cap by gold-washed pebbled aluminum buttons, indicating that this cap is for an Officer / Leader. The visor / peak on this cap is brown-finished "vulcanfibre", the standard material for NCOs and Officers alike, with a light brown underside.

The cap is lined with cream colored rayon faux silk fabric, and has the top celluloid diamond sweat shield fully intact, with complete stitching. There is however no maker mark on the top, or a size. There is however an intact ((RZM)) label under the sweatband, which identifies this as a TUCHMÜTZE, and gives the Hersteller (Supplier) number 1073 with issue number No 424608. The sweatband itself is made from fine brown finished leather, which is still supple with only light wear. It does look to have been re-stitched at some point, as wit was common for the stitching to pull out over time.

Overall condition is very good, and it shows only minor wear. We do not see any major moth or other damage, though we cannot see under the cover. The white cover shows only light staining and minimal age toning.

These caps are very rare, and this is one of the few examples that we have been able to locate in a long time. In fine condition, this cap is ready to display!