Original World War Two German Heer Artillery Non Commissioned Officer’s Visor Cap.
Visor caps were a standard item for all personnel during the Third Reich period. Regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with based on the individual’s rank. Officers and certain senior non-commissioned officer ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and, as a result, were allotted a clothing allowance through the army’s Kleiderkasse (Clothing Account) system. Officers and certain senior non-commissioned officers could choose to purchase their caps from the armed forces’ clothing depots or privately purchase visor caps of higher quality. Although enlisted personnel were issued their caps from government supplies, they were also permitted to purchase privately tailored caps, although the price may have been restrictive.
Originally, the insignia worn on the visor caps consisted of the Weimar Republic’s Wehrmacht pattern oak-leaf wreath and cockade, along with a blackened leather chinstrap for all ranks. In February 1927, new chin cords for Officer ranks were introduced, with silver cords for the ranks of Leutnant to Oberst and gilt cords for the ranks of Generalmajor to Generalfeldmarschall. On March 14, 1933, the Reichswehr’s oval black, red, and gold cockade was replaced with a circular cockade in black, white, and red. On February 17, 1934, the Third Reich pattern national eagle for the army was officially introduced for wear on the visor cap. In March 1935, a new, more detailed pattern wreath and cockade, along with a second, larger pattern national eagle, were also introduced for wear. In late 1935, regulations altered the Reichswehr era field-grey colored centerband to a dark blue/green coloration, which was utilized until the end of the war. Further regulations of February 26, 1936, also permitted senior non-commissioned officers who were Officer Candidates to wear the Officers’ twisted silver/aluminum chin cord on their visor caps, as opposed to the standard EM/NCO’s leather chinstrap. The various branches of the military were assigned a distinctive identifying waffenfarbe (Branch of Service Color). Notably, bright red was designated for the Artillerie branch, which was prominently displayed as piping on the visor cap.
The cap is overall decent condition with definite signs of wear such as the slight sweat stains as well as the slight thumb print darkening spot to the underside of the bill which is always a good indication as this proves the cap saw years of being taken off and put on the NCO’s head. There is moth damage to the top as shown, but overall an excellent display piece. Roughly a size 56.
