{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-nsdap-reichsleitung-national-level-political-leaders-visor-cap-missing-sweatband","title":"Original German WWII NSDAP Reichsleitung National Level Political Leader's Visor Cap - Missing Sweatband","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. The NSDAP or \u003cem\u003eNationalsozialistische Deutsche ArbeiterPartei\u003c\/em\u003e, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), was originally founded in Munich as the DAP, \u003cem\u003eDeutsche Arbeiterpartei\u003c\/em\u003e, (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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis new NSDAP structure consisted of four ascending levels of government: the \u003cem\u003eOrtsgruppenleitung\u003c\/em\u003e (Local group leadership), the \u003cem\u003eKreisleitung\u003c\/em\u003e (District leadership), the \u003cem\u003eGauleitung\u003c\/em\u003e (Regional District leadership), and the \u003cem\u003eReichsleitung\u003c\/em\u003e (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 \u003cem\u003eOrtsgruppe\u003c\/em\u003e level, black for \u003cem\u003eKreis\u003c\/em\u003e level, burgundy red for \u003cem\u003eGau\u003c\/em\u003e level, and gold yellow for the \u003cem\u003eReich\u003c\/em\u003e level. After that the Kreis level changed to white piping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is very nice service used example of a rare German WWII NSDAP \u003cem\u003eReichsleitung\u003c\/em\u003e (National Leadership) Level Political Leader's Visor Cap, which definitely saw extensive use during the war. Very similar to the military issue \u003cem\u003eSchirmmütze\u003c\/em\u003e (Peaked Cap), these were usually referred to as a \u003cem\u003eDienstmütze\u003c\/em\u003e (Service Cap) or\u003cem\u003e Tuchmütze\u003c\/em\u003e (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, which is \u003cem\u003eGoldgelb\u003c\/em\u003e (Golden Yellow) for a Reichsleitung level leader. The cap band is a lovely dark tan velvet material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is decorated with a well detailed stamped brass gilt spread-wing NSDAP \u003cem\u003eReichsadler\u003c\/em\u003e (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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt has a wonderful gold bullion cord \"chinstrap\", attached to the cap by gold pebbled aluminum buttons, indicating that this cap is for an Officer \/ Leader. There is some wear and oxidation to the buttons, but the chinstrap is in great shape. The visor \/ peak on this cap is dark brown finished \"vulcanfibre\", the standard material for NCOs and Officers alike, with a brown underside. It shows deterioration to the top, as well as some checking and crazing, which happens over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cap is lined with cream colored rayon fabric, which shows staining from use and wear. The diamond celluloid sweat shield is missing, though the stitching is still partially present, and the sweatband is completely missing as well. We can also see that the visor and lining have been restitched to the body of the cap around the entire circumference, as the stitching most likely rotted out with the sweatband. The fiber stiffener inside the band is also damaged, and now in several pieces, which is why the cap looks somewhat crumpled in areas. Due to this we cannot estimate what size the cap is.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn spite of the damage, this still would make an impressive addition to any collection. Reichsleitung level material is extremely scarce, and this is the first time we have ever had a national leadership level visor cap. Ready to display!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43883731058757,"sku":"ONAC25SD0342","price":1095.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONAC25SD0342__04.jpg?v=1761316937","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-nsdap-reichsleitung-national-level-political-leaders-visor-cap-missing-sweatband","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}