Original Item: Only One Available. This is a beautiful well broken-in example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Army Panzergrenadier Officer's Schirmmütze (visor cap), made by the legendary EREL company. It is marked on the sweatband, and was most likely original marked under the sweatshield, however due to wear that marking is no longer visible. The cap has a lovely "Crushed" or "saddle-form" shape that is highly desirable, accomplished by removing the crown support stiffener ring. It features the typical feldgrau (field gray) "doeskin" weave wool construction with a flaschengrün (dark bottle-green) "badge cloth" band and a traditional high forward crown.

The cap has matching Wiesengrün (Meadow Green) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, the Corps Color (Waffenfarbe) for the Heer Panzergrenadiertruppen (Panzer Grenadier Troops). These were motorized / mechanized infantry troops, and were legendary in the field. Originally called Schützen regiments, they had used the same Pink piping as the Panzer corps. Then in 1942 Infantry Regiments were renamed as Grenadier Regiments by Adolf H as a historical homage to Frederick the Great's Army, and the Schützen were renamed to Panzergrenadiers.

It is decorated with a well detailed stamped zinc eagle insignia on the peak and and an open aluminum bullion embroidered wreath surrounding an aluminum tri-color cockade on the band. The insignia show the expected wear from use and age, with the zinc eagle now showing a lovely oxidized patina, with the original silvering almost completely missing. The bullion wreath shows some fraying of the threads, as well as oxidation and loss of the bullion covering, while the aluminum cockade shows only light oxidation, with the red felt insert still vibrant. The chin strap is attached with the standard silvered pebbled buttons on either side of the cap. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, exhibiting some wear along the edge, and is checkered light brown on the underside. It has a lovely pattern of light crazing and checking on the black enamel finished top, and is still firmly attached to the cap body.

The inside of the cap is lined with lovely cream colored sheer fabric, most likely rayon, which now is stiff from use and stained light brown from service. The top celluloid sweat shield diamond in great shape, with only a bit of cracking, and the stitching is almost fully retained. Unfortunately the metallic painted logo underneath is almost completely flaked away, though we can still see enough to know that is an EREL brand cap. The cap also has an embossed stamp over the left ear on the sweatband: EREL PATENT / STIRNSCHUTZ, which refers to the "Forehead Protection" of the sweatband design. This means that the sweatband was never replaced. There is no size marking we can see, but it measures to be about a 57cm / 7 1/8 US. The natural leather sweatband shows heavy wear, with some areas on the forehead showing tearing between the perforated vent holes. We can also see some deterioration of the stitching holding it in place.

Overall condition shows long service in the field, with the original colors faded in the more exposed areas, particularly the piping, which looks almost yellow around the front. Looking under the back of the crown shows the original "meadow green" clearly. In spite of the age, we do not see any mothing or other similar damage, just wear from long service.

A great service used example of a classic hat worn by German Army Panzergrenadier Officers in WWII with a fantastic "crushed" shape, made by the legendary EREL company. Very impressive and 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.