Original World War Two German Heer Medical Officer’s Visor Cap. Double Erel Marked.
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.
Overall an excellent worn example of a private purchase, field-grey doeskin wool construction visor cap, a blue/green badge cloth center band and corn flower blue wool waffenfarbe piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the center band. Featuring a lovely "Crushed" shape. This "saddle-form" shape is highly desirable, and accomplished by removing the crown support stiffener ring. The front center of the cap features a second pattern, stamped, polished natural aluminum, national eagle. The front center of the centerband has a bullion oak-leaf wreath encompassing a high relief, three piece national tri-color cockade. The national tri-color cockade consists of a fluted black alloy base, a natural aluminum roundel and an inserted, red screened vent centerpiece. The cap has a bright, twisted silver/aluminum chin cord which is secured in place by two, small, silver washed, pebbled, alloy buttons along with some thread helping hold in place likely war-time showing age. The cap has a black lacquered Vulcan fiber visor with a raised lip near the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in two grades of rayon with a smooth finish to the crown lining and a ribbed finish to the body lining. The interior crown lining has a clear celluloid sweat diamond fully intact. Nice "Erel Sonderklasse Privat" marking. The interior of the cap also has a wide, natural tan leather sweatband, with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section, machine stitched in place. The sweatband has impressed silver script "Erel Stirnschutz". The cap is roughly size 57. Shows mothing and some discoloration to the top and mothing to the front but still a overall excellent untouched example with heavy sweat stains as well as heavily impressed thumb print to the underside of the bill.
