Original Item: Only One Available. With the dissolution of all Free Trade Unions in Germany in May 1933 the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, (German Labor Front), was established to replace the unions and to educate the workers in industry and commerce for smooth and efficient operation of all labor in the Third Reich. In October 1934 the DAF was given official status as a sub-section of the NSDAP and in March 1936 it was recognized as an independent NSDAP affiliated association and granted control of its own monetary budget. With this money it was able to procure its own signs and other insignia.

This is a very nice WWII German Labor Front DAF Schirmmütze or Visor Cap. This particular pattern is also called the Zivil-Mütze, as it was used by many of the NSDAP Civic organizations. The front crown of the cap has a very nice oval  DAF “Festival” badge in the center, with the organization’s "Mobile Swas in a cog gear" emblem over oak leaves. The cog has the correct 14 teeth, and the badge shows some wear and oxidation, but still retains almost all of the cloth logo. These caps did not feature a cockade on the front of the cap.

The cap shows high quality fabrication, made with black felt wool, with a black band adorned with machine embroidered oak leaf designs. It has a traditional high front, with black piping around the crown, and a standard black leather chin strap attached to lacquered buttons. The visor / peak on this cap is the standard vulkanfibre with a gloss black top and textured underside, with fully intact trim.

The cap is lined with light blue cotton / rayon blend, which originally had a logo on the top under a “shield” shaped sweat guard, however that is now missing along with all of the stitching. There is also an NSDAP Reichsadler Eagle in a circle with a 1940 date, and under this is R.Z.M., for the Reichzeugmeisterei (National Equipment Quartermaster), so this is definitely an officially issued cap. It has a very nice leather sweatband on the interior, however it does not quite look period, so we believe it is a post war replacement. Size is about a 56-57cm / 7-7 ⅛ US

The overall condition is very good, with just the usual light sweat staining on the interior of the cap. The exterior shows a bit of mothing, and also looks to have been on display for some time, so dust and dirt has worked its way into the top of the crown, which could probably be vacuumed or air blasted out. Ready to add to your collection!