Original Item: Only One Available. Visor caps (Schirmmützen) were a standard item for all military personnel during the Third Reich period, and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with, based on the individual’s rank. In late 1940, with the impending German entrance into the North African campaign, the army quickly developed and issued tropical uniforms and equipment in time for the Deutsches Afrika Korps (German Africa Corps or DAK) personnel’s arrival in Tripoli in February 1941. At the same time the Luftwaffe Air Force also developed and introduced their own version of the tropical uniform, headgear and equipment independently from the other branches of service.

Originally the tropical uniforms were only intended for wear in North Africa but that was later expanded to include personnel serving in southern areas of continental Europe during the summer months. Additional tropical items were introduced during the war, including the Luftwaffe tropical visor cap (Tropenschirmmütze), which was introduced on 13 April 1942 for wear by all ranks assigned to tropical climates. The design of the Luftwaffe tropical visor cap was based on the Kriegsmarine tropical visor cap with minor variations, one of which was a neck shield (Nackenschutz) or havelock attached by buttons to the back of the cap.

The insignia utilized on the visor caps consisted of the Luftwaffe style national eagle, which had been introduced on 18 August 1934  for wear by Fliegerschaft (aviation) personnel of the Deutscher Luftsport Verband (German Air Sports League or DLV) the Luftwaffe’s clandestine civilian forerunner. It was then officially adopted for wear by all Luftwaffe personnel on 1 March 1935 along with a new winged wreath and national tri-color cockade, seen on Luftwaffe Visor caps throughout the war.

On the continental visor caps Company and Field grade Officers ranks were distinguished from EM/NCO’s ranks by a silver/aluminum bullion chinstrap, while General Officer’s ranks utilized a gilt bullion chinstrap. On the tropical visor cap it appears all ranks utilized a leather chin strap, although some officers appear to have added the chin cords as a personal preference. Luftwaffe personnel referred to the tropical visor cap as the, "Hermann Meyer" cap after Hermann Göring’s boastful statement that if the industrial Ruhr region of Germany was ever bombed you could call him "Meyer".

This is a lovely example of the very rare Luftwaffe Tropenschirmmütze mit Nackenschutz (Tropical Visor Cap with Neck Protector), showing some wear from service and age, but still in great displayable condition. We often see these like they just came out of a depot, but this example has some fantastic period wear. It has a cut in the front of the visor, which definitely does not look to be any kind of tear, and shows some overall staining from service use. It also had the original cross-hatched leather chinstrap replaced during the period with an officer's bullion chinstrap, a known modification. It now is patinated and well rested, having been on the cap now for decades.

The BeVo embroidered insignia on the cap are textbook, and sewn using the correct pattern stitching to the front of the cap. They show light staining but no major wear or tears, giving them a great look. The inside of the cap has the correct red liner, which is marked with RBNr. 0/0250/0202 over a 1943 date and size of 56½. The inside of the cap shows light to moderate wear, with some staining on the forehead band, but no major staining or soiling.

A fantastic collector's opportunity! We have never had one of these "Hermann Meyer" caps previously, and it is unlikely we will see another anytime soon. This would be a perfect edition to any German WWII collection, whether the focus is headgear, Afrika Korps, or Luftwaffe.

The Afrika Korps or German Africa Corps (Deutsches Afrikakorps or DAK) was the German expeditionary force in Africa during the North African Campaign of World War II. First sent as a holding force to shore up the Italian defense of their African colonies, the formation fought on in Africa, under various appellations, from March 1941 until its surrender in May 1943. The term "Afrika Korps" is pseudo-German (so-called "cod-German"), deriving from an incomplete German title. The German term referred solely to the initial formation, the Deutsches Afrikakorps (DAK), which formed part of the Axis command of the German and Italian forces in North Africa. The name stuck, with both news media and Allied soldiers, as the name for all subsequent German units in North Africa. The unit is known for having been commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

The Luftwaffe, the air force of the German military during the Third Reich, was established in 1935. Over the next 10 years, Luftwaffe troops wore a huge variety of uniforms. Enlisted men generally wore uniforms issued from military depots. Most enlisted soldiers had wool trousers and a short jacket with two internal lower pockets, called a Fliegerbluse, as well as a dressier 4-pocket tunic, the Tuchrock. Officers wore the same general uniform styles, but as officers had to supply their own uniforms, they usually wore tailor made versions. There were also myriad varieties of specialized uniforms worn by certain units or in specific situations, from the tuxedo-style “gala” formal wear uniform of the pre-war period, to the plain coveralls worn by crews of anti-aircraft cannons. There were work uniforms, tropical and summer uniforms, and camouflage clothing for airborne troops and other Luftwaffe soldiers in ground combat. Flight crews had their own specialized gear, including leather jackets and warm, electrically heated suits. Most but not all Luftwaffe uniform jackets bore the Luftwaffe emblem of a flying eagle holding a swas.