Original Item: Only One Available. This cap is a wonderful service used example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Army Artillery EM/NCO Schirmmütze (visor cap), with a lovely "Crushed" shape. This "saddle-form" shape is highly desirable, and accomplished by removing the crown support stiffener ring. It features the typical feldgrau (field gray) "doeskin" weave wool construction with a forest green "badge cloth" band and a traditional high forward crown. The also has matching Hochrot (Deep Red) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, the Corps Color (Waffenfarbe) for Artillery, as well as General Level Officers. As this is an EM/NCO cap, this is definitely for an Artillery, Assault Gun, or Heavy Flak soldier.

It is decorated with a well detailed aluminum eagle insignia on the peak and and an open aluminum oak leaf and acorn wreath surrounding an metal tri-color cockade on the band. All insignia are still mostly bright and shiny, with very little wear or oxidation. The red felt insert inside the cockade is present and vibrant. The dual-buckled black leather chinstrap, designating the wearer to be an enlisted man, is attached to black lacquered buttons on either side. It shows some degradation to the finish, and has been placed behind the insignia to keep it in place, which looks to have happened during service. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, exhibiting wear along the edge and is beige on the underside. It has a lovely pattern of checking and crazing on the top surface.

The cap is lined with cream colored rayon, which shows quite a bit of wear and staining, with the fabric having frayed on much of the crown lining. However the celluloid sweat shield is still fully intact, as is the stitching holding it in place. There is a very faded maker marking on the shield, which can be seen in the light. The sweatband is leather, however it is in delicate condition, and partly detached from the cap. The velvet spacer between the cap and the sweatband is also detached in areas due to the stitching rotting out and/or pulling.

Overall condition is just lovely, with a fantastic "been there" look. There is some fading to the colors, as well as wear on the exterior, but nothing out of line with wear from service and storage. There are some light stains and moth nips on the exterior, as expected on wool cap of this age. There is more advanced mothing on the underside of the crown, which would be protected from the light. Size is not marked but seems to be about a 56 / US 7.

A great well broken in example of the classic hat worn by German Artillery NCOs in WWII. 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.