Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive and scarce original German WWII Waffen-SS officer's Schirmmütze, or visor cap, with a beautifully broken in saddle form crown and measured size of approximately 57cm. Constructed from fine Feldgrau officer quality wool with a black velvet band, white triple piping, silver officer chin cords, and original style SS eagle and Totenkopf insignia, the cap has exactly the service worn profile collectors look for in an officer visor. The removed crown stiffener gives it a pronounced crushed appearance while the exterior still retains strong color and excellent overall presentation.

The SS was established in 1925 and expanded dramatically under Heinrich Himmler, eventually encompassing political, police, security, concentration camp, and military organizations. The armed formations that developed from the pre-war SS-Verfügungstruppe became known as the Waffen-SS during WWII and grew into a large military organization composed of German personnel as well as volunteers and conscripts from many other countries.

This cap is made from high quality Feldgrau green gray wool with a fine doeskin type surface and a plush black velvet center band. It retains the traditional high front associated with officer quality visor caps. The crown stiffener has been removed, allowing the sides and rear to settle downward into the desirable saddle form or “crushed” profile seen on many period worn officer caps.

Three rows of Weiß, or white, wool piping remain around the crown and on both edges of the black center band. The piping is still in very good condition with only light wear and staining.

White piping on Waffen-SS officer visor caps should not automatically be taken as proof of Infantry branch service. The Waffen-SS briefly experimented with branch colored visor cap piping during 1940, but white was otherwise the standard piping for officer visor caps regardless of branch. Without an internal unit marking or other provenance, this example is therefore best described as a Waffen-SS officer cap with regulation white piping rather than definitively as an Infantry officer cap.

The front retains both principal SS metal insignia. Above the band is the Reichsadler, or National Eagle, while the black velvet band carries the Totenkopf, or Death's Head insignia.

The eagle appears to be constructed from zinc alloy with a bright silvered or plated finish, much of which remains intact. It is secured by two flat attachment prongs with chisel shaped ends, a construction style associated with some Ferdinand Wagner produced SS cap eagles. We cannot inspect the reverse deeply enough to confirm a maker marking, so the Ferdinand Wagner attribution remains based on construction rather than a visible code.

The eagle has a crack running down the right side of the body at the junction with the wing. We cannot determine whether this resulted from physical stress, age related deterioration of the zinc alloy, or another cause, so it should be regarded simply as a visible structural crack.

The Totenkopf also appears to be zinc alloy and is of a form associated with Overhoff production. It is retained by two flat brass prongs with chisel shaped ends. We examined the visible attachment points and see no obvious evidence that the insignia were repositioned. The somewhat high placement of the skull therefore appears consistent with the cap as presently configured, although the hidden reverse markings cannot be examined without disturbing the cap.

The original silver bullion officer chin cords remain in place and are secured by the correct silver colored pebbled side buttons. The cords are in very good condition with no major damage or significant oxidation visible, and the finish on the buttons remains strong.

The black Vulkanfiber visor is also in very good condition. Its underside has the characteristic painted brown checkered finish. The upper surface shows an attractive pattern of light age checking, and the visor remains firmly attached to the cap body.

The interior is lined with cream colored satin rayon in the crown and matching ribbed satin rayon around the sides. The lining shows light staining and wear but no evidence of severe use or abuse.

The original celluloid sweat shield, or “diamond,” is completely missing, although its perimeter stitching remains visible. We were unable to locate any surviving maker or retailer markings elsewhere inside the cap. This may indicate a privately purchased or tailor made example, but without a label or stamp the original manufacturer cannot be identified.

The sweatband is constructed from an “Alkor” type synthetic leather substitute rather than natural leather. The material has deteriorated with age and is now missing a substantial amount of its brown textured surface finish. Multiple cracks and tears are also present throughout the sweatband, making this the principal condition issue on the interior.

The cap was measured using a hat sizing tool and measures approximately 57cm.

Overall condition is very good, particularly from the exterior. The Feldgrau wool retains strong color and the metal insignia remain bright and visually effective. There is light exterior wear together with minor moth tracking through the surface nap of the crown. Several moth holes are present along the lower rear portion of the cap and expose the internal stiffener ring in places. The deteriorated synthetic sweatband remains the most significant condition issue.

For the advanced Waffen-SS headgear collector, this cap has a particularly desirable combination of features: fine officer quality Feldgrau wool, black velvet band, regulation white piping, original style silver officer cords, bright metal eagle and Totenkopf, a deeply developed saddle form crown, and a measured 57cm size. The crack in the eagle, moth damage, missing sweat diamond, and heavily worn sweatband are all fully disclosed, but the exterior remains exceptionally impressive and gives the cap the unmistakable appearance of a genuinely service worn officer visor.

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.