WSS Yellow Piped Crusher

[jacquesf]

Phild was the first person that I have come across that could give a reasoned explanation about the buckram pasteboard construction and the wear patterns that is typical of this construction, on ss crushers. I do take his reasoning on crushers seriously.Jacques

[Bob Coleman]

One Fact That Is Usually Overlooked Is That When An Officer Ordered Visor Caps, Its Was Usually Just That-caps, Not Cap.
Therefore, It Is Reasonable To Believe That An S S Officer Might Own Three Or Four Branch Piped Caps. This Certainly Would Account For The Wear Of Such Caps Long After The Change In Piping Regulation. Regardless, Genuine Period Examples Are Extremely Rare. Those That I Have Encountered Have Been Either Pink Or Red Piped. I Would Believe Any Other Color Should Be Examined With Great Caution. The Disagreement On The Cap That Started This Thread Is An Excellent Example Of The Fact That Not Everything Can Always Be Judged By Pictures Alone. There Are Enough Features In This Cap That I Would Like To Refrain On Any Judgement Without A Hands On.

[Bobwirtz]

Personally I would be more careful with a pink piped as everybody wants PANZER and the folks that make reproductions do pink more than any other.

Bob

[SgtB]

I just flipped through Mark Yerger's excellent 'Knights of Steel - Das Reich, Vol I' again, and there are at least 15 obvious, both studio and field, pics of colored-piped caps. And there are several more long-shots that are probables. The neat thing is that since the men are wearing awards, it is fairly easy to date the photos within 6 months or so. Many of the pics are, therefore, from '41, '42, '43, and so on. I think I can differentiate at least panzer, artillery, and pioneer.

Here's a cool picture of a couple of cavalry guys wearing crushers. I'd wager they are golden-yellow piped.

[SgtB]

Here's a famous shot. Notice that the band is only about 2mm's wider than the tk. Also notice how wide the frame is below the lower band piping. It's impossible IMO to tell if this is colored waffenfarb because the crusher is so damn dirty! This is the best looking crusher I have ever seen, and I would trade every piece of TR I have ever owned for it. (maybe )

[robertdmountfor]

I just flipped through Mark Yerger's excellent 'Knights of Steel - Das Reich, Vol I' again, and there are at least 15 obvious, both studio and field, pics of colored-piped caps. And there are several more long-shots that are probables. The neat thing is that since the men are wearing awards, it is fairly easy to date the photos within 6 months or so. Many of the pics are, therefore, from '41, '42, '43, and so on. I think I can differentiate at least panzer, artillery, and pioneer.

Here's a cool picture of a couple of cavalry guys wearing crushers. I'd wager they are golden-yellow piped.

Good picture that has movie footage I think. The guys are from Rattenhubers security detatchment I think.

[derek]

I think it might be worth considering that the so-called "crusher" is a field cap, not a service cap. The only regulation field cap that was available to officers through the Kleiderkasse-SS during 1940 was the schiffchen, (boat shaped), field cap. Throughout the waffenfarbe period it was worn with a soutache as shown in the picture Brian has posted above.
If an officer of the Waffen-SS purchased a peaked field cap, whatever the colour of the piping, one could argue it was a personal, non-regulation item as officially the hat was the schiffchen, or later, the m43.
Derek

[jotuntroll]

Hi
Regarding regulations in general, at the front ss men used non official camo, captured winter hats and I believe they made crushers out od ww1 visors as well?

I once saw a ww2 cartoon about a guy making hes crusher at the barrack, anyone seen it? It is no doubt it was a fasion thing.

Cheers!

[NTZ]

Don’t confuse an SS crusher with any “field headwear”. A crusher was purchased just like any other visor from the same makers and for officers was still a item purchased from their own pocket. They just choose the leather bill instead of a Vulcan fiber and were not made in the field. Was it preferred for field use? Well there is no substantiated evidence of that.

[derek]

NTZ,
I'm not confusing a "crusher" with any "field headwear". Both are only collector terms and don't bring any real clarity. My post didn't use field cap with regard to where they were made. It is just the standard name for an item designed to be worn with the field uniform. The Field Uniform and the Service Dress are the two basic orders of dress for the SS.
The issue of the Kleiderkasse-SS came up with regard to caps and I was pointing out that in official channels the German military were very clear in their use of terminology. For them a service cap was a very specific item, as was a field cap. The regulations for both are extremely specific as to their make-up.
An officer purchasing a cap through the Kleiderkasse-SS could not choose the peak because the cap available there was a standard service cap. (Especially as the leather peak for the service cap had been specifically forbidden by a Himmler order in 1938).
Of course, when purchasing an item at a retailer an officer could purchase a field cap with a leather peak, but this was an unofficial practice.
The well known picture that Brian posted shows the two official field caps for NCO's and leaders.
As you can see from the relevant section of the Kleiderkasse catalogue an officer had the choice of a standard service cap (Fuhrermuetze) or a schiffchen field cap.
Derek

[Fritz]

Derek,
do you have any clue where I could place a order?

Cheers

Fritz

[derek]

Fritz,
Wouldn't that be a treat. Here's all the contact info you need.
Good luck!

[Fritz]

Fritz,
Wouldn't that be a treat. Here's all the contact info you need.
Good luck!

Dammit, to place a order one needs to be a member, I am not...ok, ok...

Cheers

Fritz

[Fritz]

Here's a famous shot. Notice that the band is only about 2mm's wider than the tk. Also notice how wide the frame is below the lower band piping. It's impossible IMO to tell if this is colored waffenfarb because the crusher is so damn dirty! This is the best looking crusher I have ever seen, and I would trade every piece of TR I have ever owned for it. (maybe )

Brian,
I just had a quick look at that picture again...Is that guy to the right wearing a palm winter parka???? If so, WOW!

Do you have access to more pictures of that scene?

[John Pic]

Derek...Do you realize what you have just done? Tossed all the collector claptrap about crushers on these forums out the door for the last several years. So if i read correctly crushers were a privately ordered non regulation item and that it was really the wearers choice if he wanted non regulation color piping on his non regulation cap?