Visor Caps of the NSDAP
VISOR CAPS OF THE POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF THE NSDAP
Prior to 1933, Political Leaders of the NSDAP wore the SA style kepi. The kepi was totally light brown with fixed turn-up sides, and a single round metal button at the lower front. Centered at the top front was a metal political style ational emblem. Affixed by two side buttons was a cap cord with one (centered) or two (off-set) cord knots. An identical kepi, but in blue-black was worn with the blue-black service uniform.
A visor cap was introduced in late 1933 for wear by Political Leaders of the NSDAP. It was identified as a "Wehrmacht-Schnitt (Armed Forces style) or as "Schirmmiitze" (visor cap). Regardless of the political level the top of the cap was light brown. The cap band was light brown at the Ortsgruppe level, and dark brown for Kreis, Gau, and Reich levels. The visor was made of black leather, but this was gradually changed to brown. The chin strap was made of twist cord in the same color as the collar insignia authorized for wear by the respective political leader, i.e., silver or gold. The strap was secured by metal side buttons of the same color. The insignia worn on this pattern visor cap initially consisted only of the early pattern (with pointed wings) silver metal national emblem as introduced in 1929. Early regulations prescribed that the national emblem be positioned in the front center bisected by the juncture of the cap top and cap band seam. This was soon repositioned at the top center of the cap top. Shortly thereafter, a cockade consisting of a black wool center surrounded by an aluminum ring, which in turn was surrounded by a red plastic or fiber ring, was introduced.
A system of cap piping about the cap top, and around the top and bottom of the cap band was introduced to identify the political level to which the respective political leader was assigned. The colors were as follows:
Prior to 1933, Political Leaders of the NSDAP wore the SA style kepi. The kepi was totally light brown with fixed turn-up sides, and a single round metal button at the lower front. Centered at the top front was a metal political style ational emblem. Affixed by two side buttons was a cap cord with one (centered) or two (off-set) cord knots. An identical kepi, but in blue-black was worn with the blue-black service uniform.
A visor cap was introduced in late 1933 for wear by Political Leaders of the NSDAP. It was identified as a "Wehrmacht-Schnitt (Armed Forces style) or as "Schirmmiitze" (visor cap). Regardless of the political level the top of the cap was light brown. The cap band was light brown at the Ortsgruppe level, and dark brown for Kreis, Gau, and Reich levels. The visor was made of black leather, but this was gradually changed to brown. The chin strap was made of twist cord in the same color as the collar insignia authorized for wear by the respective political leader, i.e., silver or gold. The strap was secured by metal side buttons of the same color. The insignia worn on this pattern visor cap initially consisted only of the early pattern (with pointed wings) silver metal national emblem as introduced in 1929. Early regulations prescribed that the national emblem be positioned in the front center bisected by the juncture of the cap top and cap band seam. This was soon repositioned at the top center of the cap top. Shortly thereafter, a cockade consisting of a black wool center surrounded by an aluminum ring, which in turn was surrounded by a red plastic or fiber ring, was introduced.
A system of cap piping about the cap top, and around the top and bottom of the cap band was introduced to identify the political level to which the respective political leader was assigned. The colors were as follows:
Blue (Blau): Ortsgruppe level Black (Schwarz): Kreis level Red (Rot): Gau level Red (Rot): Reich level Note that the first cap piping colors utilized red for both the Gau and Reich levels. However, sometime in 1936/37 the color for the Reichleitung was changed to match the color of the collar patch piping (golden-yellow).
The visor cap underwent minor changes in 1936 in that the national emblem of the 1929 pattern was replaced with a larger eagle with rounded wings, and the cockade was changed to the pattern with the black swastika in the center surrounded by a silver/aluminum rim with an outer rim of red plastic or fiber.
The chin cord and cap band remained the same, however the fabric of the cap band for Kreis level and above was changed to medium brown velvet. The visor was standardized in color to a brown leather or fiber material. The piping reflecting the political levels remained unchanged except that the Reich level was changed from red to golden-yellow (Goldgelb). However, personnel holding the title of "Reichleiter" utilized the gold piping rather than the golden-yellow.
A new style visor cap was introduced in 1938 with the introduction of the new form insignia. The cap bands at all levels were dark brown velvet. The visor was brown fiber material. The chinstrap was golden-yellow twist celleon. The national emblem was changed to the final larger form, and the cockade was surrounded by a gilt-colored metal oakleaf wreath. However, it was not uncommon for higher ranking political leaders to have the wreath done in hand-embroidered gold wire. The piping colors were revised for the final time as follows:
Light blue (Hellblau): Ortsgruppe level White (Weiss): Kreis level Dark Red (Dunkel Rot): Gau level Golden-yellow (Goldgelb): Reich level
This pattern visor cap remained in use until the end of the war.
J.R. Angolia: "Cloth Insignia of the NSDAP and SA", 1985, R. James Bender Publishing
Bender-Publishing.com
posted by GMC at
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