Original Item: Only One Available. This cap is a very nice service worn example of a German WWII Wehrmacht Heer Army EM / NCO Schirmmütze (visor cap). It features the typical feldgrau (field gray) "whipcord" wool. construction with a forest green band and a traditional high forward crown. The cap also has matching Weiß (white) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, the Corps Color (Waffenfarbe) for infantry and motorized infantry.

It is decorated with a well detailed aluminum eagle insignia on the peak and an open silvered aluminum wreath surrounding a tri-color cockade on the band. The dual-buckled black leather chinstrap, designating the wearer to be an enlisted man, is attached to black lacquered buttons on either side. The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, exhibiting wear along the edge and is brown with cross-hatching on the underside. It is still attached firmly to the cap, so the stitching has not degraded as we often see.

The inside of the cap is lined with orange lightweight "service cloth" style fabric. The top celluloid diamond sweat shield is unfortunately completely missing, with only the stitching remaining. We can see some traces of a maker mark, and a very faint size of 55 as well, with no other markings we can see. The leather sweatband is completely intact, with no tearing, but is quite stained from use. There are some very faded markings on the underside, which we are unfortunately unable to read accurately.

Overall condition is quite good considering the level of service the cap looks to have seen. The crown has fallen in a bit, and the cap as a whole is lightly stained, showing wear to the "nap" of the fabric. The interior is quite stained from sweat and dirt, giving it a look that simply cannot be duplicated.

A nice "salty" service worn example of the classic hat worn by a German Army Infantry NCOs in WWII. Ready to research and 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, issued 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.