Original Item: Only One Available. This is a really attractive example of a German WWII RLB Reichsluftschutzbund (National Air Protection League) Officer's Schirmmütze (visor cap)! This example shows high quality fabrication, made with a very nice dark gray wool body, with a black band and a traditional high front. The cap has correct silver bullion piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, indicating the wearer to be an Officer in the organization.

It is decorated with a well detailed silvered aluminum eagle RLB insignia on the peak, which has an eagle perched on the starburst organizational emblem of the Reichsluftschutzbund, which has a Swas (Hook Cross) in the center. Below this is a "Winged Laurel Wreath" shaped front plate with a typical metal tri-color cockade inside, which still retains a vibrant red felt insert. The silver bullion chinstrap designates the wearer to be an officer, and it is attached on either side with the correct pebbled silver buttons. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper bordered with black oilcloth faux leather, and is green on the underside. The visor is in very good shape, with just a bit of wear to the edge trim, though the stitching holding it onto the cap has gotten loose.

The inside of the cap is lined with gray lightweight fabric, which shows moderate staining from use. The top celluloid sweat shield diamond is mostly present, however it has torn away from the stitching on one side, and no maker markings are visible. There is however a crossed out marking, as well as two stamped HACKENGASSE 15 markings, which is a street name in Vienna, Austria. We assume this is where the particular officer was stationed during the war. The sweatband is made from dark brown oil cloth faux leather, which is still intact, but definitely shows some age related deterioration.

Overall condition is really very good, showing only light wear, and the colors are very well preserved. We do not see any evidence of major mothing or other damage, which is unfortunately quite typical on these.

A very nice example of a rare German WWII RLB Air Protection League Officer's visor cap, ready to add to your collection!

History of the RLB

The Reichsluftschutzbund - RLB was organized by Hermann Göring in 1933 as a voluntary association. Existing volunteer air raid precaution associations were then forced to merge with RLB. In 1939 the RLB became a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization), while in 1944 it became an affiliated organization of the NSDAP Party. It was in charge of educating and training ordinary German men and women in civil defense procedures necessary for the basic level of local self-help of the civil population against air raids. The local level was formed around air raid wardens and operated in small first intervention squads. The training include fire fighting, protection against chemical weapons, communication procedures and preparation of houses and apartments against air raids.

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.