Erel Conundrum--See This!

[stonemint]

I used to be able to rely on Wolften to go thru Ebay for all the junk, but now I have to pick up the slack by default.

This is one of the more perplexing caps I have seen--it is definately a POSTWAR Lubstein cap, but it has the pre-war Lubstein label! I believe it is an immediate post-war DDR police cap, but can't state that for sure.
Here is the frontal:

[stonemint]

Insignia close-up:

[stonemint]

Lubstein logo close-up:

[stonemint]

Interior shot:

[stonemint]

It looks like the visor has been re-sewn, but its definately not pre-or war-time (and why add DDR insignia if it was?) I have a feeling Erel was using left-over celluloid stock in the immediate post-war period--but this hat has to be a "missing link" of sorts!

Nick, your thoughts???

[billbert]

I would follow your thoughts on it..Billbert

[NTZ]

Wow, I need to look at this one for a bit. Are there any more pics? I don't think it is post war. I think the DDR insignia was added later. I am just trying to figure out what it is.

[stonemint]

Nick--there really aren't any better pix. Its on ebay.de, and the seller thinks its Trapo, and its already up to $68.00, so others know it might be a "missing Link". I will run it by the DDR guys to see what they think it is.

[stonemint]

Those DDR guys are quick--moderater Mike Gallagher id'ed it as Volkspolizei (VOPO) General's cap made by Emhage (Erel) 1948-1952.
Looks like Erel was using their leftover celluloid Lubstein labels for high-ranking visors.

[NTZ]

Very interesting

[TONY Q.W.]

Those DDR guys are quick--moderater Mike Gallagher id'ed it as Volkspolizei (VOPO) General's cap made by Emhage (Erel) 1948-1952.
Looks like Erel was using their leftover celluloid Lubstein labels for high-ranking visors.

Great new information, thanks A very rare cap after all.

[militaria.no]

--but this hat has to be a "missing link" of sorts!

A very interesting find stonemint

[stonemint]

As a follow up to this, the DDR guys are having problems with their hats being doctored up. Here is the earliest DDR Naval (WSP?) hat I have seen, which was for sale on e-bay. In shape and style, it looks like an EM/NCO Kriegs visor:

[stonemint]

They believe it is a DDR Cap doctored up with Third Reich insignia! (The bullion looks too yellow for me):

[stonemint]

Here's the interior--an "Emhage"--but note the address, it is on the Neue Konigstrasse: (not the Heinrich Roller Str):