Posted 7 years ago
bluemax1914
(71 items)
Third Reich visor cap of a Wehrmacht recruiting officer, a rare find. I purchased this as a Feldgendarmerie visor cap, which is also a very scarce type that is likewise piped in red-orange waffenfarbe, and after receiving it discovered that the interior of the sweatband is marked Gepruft W.B.KDO.B which is stands for Wehrbezirkskommando (Recruitment District Headquarters) making it a 100% recruitment cap !! the last B is for the area which is probably the Berlin District. The visor cap was manufactured by the prestigious firm of Berolina (aka G.A . Hoffman) which was located in Berlin. The outstanding quality of the materials used to make this cap make it of pre-war manufacture. The piping color (waffenfarbe) of recruiters was changed to white in 1942. The hand-embroidered wreath and cockade are beautifully executed, with one or two metal highlights missing. The exterior is constructed of the finest quality doeskin wool, with very light moth tracking on the rear piping. The interior is of the finest ribbed silk and shows fairly heavy honest wear and sweat stains, but the maker mark and celluloid sweat diamond are fully visible and almost 100% intact. The underside of the visor exhibits thumbnail marks from the original owner’s donning and removing the cap over a long period. The markings The Gepruft inspection stamps indicate that this was an NCO promoted to officer rank. The quality of this private purchase piece indicate that the NCO was financially well-off.
Beautiful collectors piece ! Thanks for showing & adding to my knowledge.
Wow, Great piece, and Super Photos !!