Original Item: Only One Available. During the NSDAP period in Germany, the Reichsministerium für die Besetzten Ostgebiete ("Reich Ministry for the Occupied Eastern Territories" or RMfdbO), or Ostministerium (Eastern Ministry) was created by A H on 17 July 1941. The organization was headed by the NSDAP theoretical expert, Baltic German Alfred Rosenberg, with Alfred Meyer serving as Rosenberg's deputy. The German government formed this ministry to control the vast areas captured and projected for capture by the Wehrmacht in Eastern Europe and Russia. The Ostministerium (East Ministry) also played a part in supporting anti-Soviet groups in Central Asia.

In February 1942, under Rosenberg's plans, the Ministry tried to promulgate a program of land reform in the occupied territories in the Soviet Union that included promises of decollectivization through the abolition of kolkhozes and the re-distribution of land to peasants for individual farming. Germany established two Reichskommissariats, for Ostland and Ukraine, and planned for two more, for Muscovy and for the Caucasus. The Wehrmacht never established firm possession of the areas designated for the last two Reichskommissariats and so German civilian control never developed there.

In practice, the appointment of Erich Koch to administer the Reichskommissariat Ukraine substantially undermined Rosenberg's authority. Adolf H ordered Koch to take a hard and brutal approach, which helped to push potential Ukrainian allies back to the Allied camp. Rosenberg wished to portray the Germans as liberators of Ukraine from Soviet domination. Furthermore, Rosenberg's ministry was denied authority over army and other security formations within the occupied territories. The other Reich Commissar, Hinrich Lohse (Ostland), was widely disregarded. The SS filled the resulting power vacuum by acting as it wished.

This is a very nice and hard to find example of a German WWII RMBO East Ministry overseas cap (Ostministerium Schiffchen). The overseas cap, nicknamed in German military slang as Schiffchen, or literally "little ship" as it resembled an up-turned row-boat, was standard issue armed and civic organizations of the NSDAP.

This example is constructed of a dark olive green wool exterior, with a olive drab cotton lining marked size 59. The front top of the cap has the NSDAP State Eagle, with no cockade, as is correct. There is also silver bullion piping around the skirt, which we believe indicates issue to an officer.

Condition is good but a bit salty, showing a wear and some mothing to the exterior shell. It has the look of a cap that really saw service in the field, and didn't spend the war in some warehouse. A very nice example, ready to add to your collection!