In the post today!!! 
-
Last edited by iannima; 02-28-2008, 12:14 PM. -
Another side view:
Last edited by iannima; 02-28-2008, 12:14 PM. -
The white band is in leather and slips over a normal hat. It is in width a bit narrower than the dark crown, so that the white piping is still visible.
Last edited by iannima; 02-28-2008, 12:14 PM.Comment
-
The hat is in mint conditions, dated S=1975 and size 55, my size. Despite the white band not being an integral part of the hat from its manufacture but an addition, I am inclined to believe that these hats were issued to personnel on KD/Streife/Regulier duty as and when...
Putting the white band in place requires taking off the Kokarde and chinstrap including the side buttons, and then the white band itself has to be slid in and it is a relatively tight fit. It is the sort of thing that would be done once without a problem but to do it over and over again for each KD duty would quickly become a pain. That is why I suspect that some big basket of variously sized hats was kept ready for temporary issue.
For Viktor's amusement I can add that the newspaper inside is original DDR dated 12th of November 1975. Were these put in at the factory? It would appear so.
Personally I find this a very elegant hat. Much more elegant in this Unteroffizier version than in the officer case, where a slip-on white cover would have been added to cover the very top of the hat.
Of course, some might say that my finding this hat so elegant might have something to do with the fact that the Schirmuetze of certain Imperial army regiments whose regimental colour was white, would have looked remarkably... similar...
Last edited by iannima; 01-31-2007, 12:15 PM.Comment
-
I would also add that in years of constant vigil on Ebay, looking for something to tempt me...
... as one does, not once have I come across a hat like this in any size let alone my own.
As luck would have it, I found it in North Carolina but we'd better not start the usual argument that bores me silly on the other forum
Comment
-
The white band must have also the NVA Stamp.
NicoComment
-
Matteo
Wonderful find.
You are correct that these NVA Regulator Visor Hats (Authentic ones) are very hard to come by. I concur with your observations that the Other Rank Visor Cap looks very much better than the Officer version.
I've had one very similar to the one you just acquired, in my collection now for several years, and am elated to see that they are still out there. Even better is that a member of the Forum who will certainly great respect to the hat, and take wonderful careful care of it, and also will appreciate the rarity of the hat and what it represents, got it.
Congratulations
Side Note: Just another perspective on these hats to ponder:
It would be interesting to learn more about the Regulator position, and how long an NVA member was appointed to that position. It could also be, that if it was a long enough assignment, then the hat configured with the white leather band, may actually have been issued. I would definitely very much like to know more about this assigned duty position. Although your perspective merits weight as well. But I'm thinking about the hygiene aspect of people sharing and wearing these hats over and over again. Although I guess this is something True Blue Died in the Wool Re-enactors don't trouble themselves about.
Last edited by Michael D. Gallagher; 01-31-2007, 09:06 PM.Michael D. GALLAGHER
M60-A2 Tank Commander Cold War proverb: “You can accomplish more with a kind word and a ‘Shillelagh’ than you can with just a kind word.”Comment
-
Oh I agree!!Originally posted by Michael D. Gallagher View PostMatteo
But I'm thinking about the hygiene aspect of people sharing and wearing these hats over and over again. Although I guess this is something True Blue Died in the Wool Re-enactors don't trouble themselves about.
One of the many reasons for being glad that my hat is in mint conditions... 
I do appreciate what you are saying but that argument would equally apply to the helmet which would have had a white stripe painted across the crown as we discussed on another thread some time ago.
Obviously I don't know any precise figure, but I do recall all veterans, who have commented on this, saying that their duty as KD, Regulier etc. was a short one. How short I cannot say.
But then perhaps it was precisely for reasons of hygiene that these hats (and the striped helmets) were discontinued (at least I think they were). And indeed if anyone is to be assigned to such duties -say- for a day or two at most, it makes a lot more sense to give him a white slip-over to put over his hat or his helmet. Not as elegant but eminently more sensible.
There obviously is a photograph of an officer in the Keubke Kunz book wearing the white cover on his hat, but I have never come across a photograph of this Unteroffizier hat being worn. Has anyone seen one?Comment
-
Matteo,
I've got quite a few coffee table books now in my collection, and I too have only seen the one example to which you already made reference. I've not seen a picture depicting an example of the Unteroffizier hat like the one this thread is about, in actual wear.Michael D. GALLAGHER
M60-A2 Tank Commander Cold War proverb: “You can accomplish more with a kind word and a ‘Shillelagh’ than you can with just a kind word.”Comment
-
Genosse iannima,
This is a fine addition to your Scale of Issue, This Command also is seeking this Millinery, to complete a Regulator Scale of Issue able to be deployed when needed at Fronts.
Good Kill.
Comment
-
Do you mean that I have something that you haven't already got?Originally posted by Viktor View PostGenosse iannima,
This Command also is seeking this Millinery, to complete a Regulator Scale of Issue able to be deployed when needed at Fronts.
Urrah!!! Urrah!!!! Urrah!!!!
Comment
-
Very nice Matteo !
Here are mine
Comment
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Originally posted by iannima View Post
Well then,
Certainly something must be done about this ......
Perhaps not the best quality, but then hey - beggers can't be choosey
Following are some pics of the Unteroffizier hat being worn.Michael D. GALLAGHER
M60-A2 Tank Commander Cold War proverb: “You can accomplish more with a kind word and a ‘Shillelagh’ than you can with just a kind word.”Comment
-
Another:Michael D. GALLAGHER
M60-A2 Tank Commander Cold War proverb: “You can accomplish more with a kind word and a ‘Shillelagh’ than you can with just a kind word.”Comment
-
Another one:Michael D. GALLAGHER
M60-A2 Tank Commander Cold War proverb: “You can accomplish more with a kind word and a ‘Shillelagh’ than you can with just a kind word.”Comment
Comment