Item:
ONSV22MAX146

Original Rare German WWII Luftwaffe Veterinary Service EM/NCO Schirmmütze Visor Cap

Item Description

Original Item: Only One available. This is a very nice Luftwaffe Veterinary Service EM/NCO Schirmmütze (visor cap), a wonderful honest example with a fantastic "saddle-form" crushed shape. It has had the original crown stiffener removed, so the outer edge has that lovely shape that everyone loves. It is fabricated in "whipcord" weave Luftwaffe Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) grey blue wool, with wide black wool cap band, plus three rows of karmesin (carmine red or crimson) color piping around the circumference. This is the Luftwaffe Waffenfarbe (corps color) for officers in the General Staff (Generalstabsoffiziere), however this is an EM/NCO cap. As with the Wehrmacht, this color was also used for the Veterinary service, and these caps are very hard to find.

The peaked visor cap retains a very nice early "Droop-Tail" zinc pin Luftwaffe eagle perched on a swas (hook cross), as well as a centrally mounted aluminum "winged" oak leaf wreath surrounding a tri-color cockade. The insignia are in good condition, though the left attachment prong has detached from the back of the eagle, still held in place in the fabric. The black patent leather chin strap and buttons are still present and in very good condition, with some checking and cracking of the leather. The visor is the classic black gloss color with faux stitched edge trim, made of pressed vulcanfibre with a green underside.

The wool body is in very good condition, showing just a bit of light wear with a few minor stains. The interior lining is antique white rayon, complete with the original celluloid moisture shield, with the stitching fully intact. There is no maker marking or size present, but it seems to be around a size 57cm. The sweatband is made from light brown leather, and unfortunately has become quite delicate due to age related deterioration. The right side has numerous tears, and the edge stitching is deteriorating.

This is a great example of a rare Luftwaffe Veterinary Service EM/NCO peaked visor "crushed" cap, offered in very good service used condition. 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.

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