Waffen Visor

[Ken B.]

Any opinions would be appreciated...

[Ken B.]

2

[Ken B.]

3

[Ken B.]

4

[Ken B.]

5

[Ken B.]

stamping under chin strap

[Ken B.]

7

[Ken B.]

8

[Ken B.]

9

[necker]

I don't like what I see. The inside of the cap is fully used (sweat, broken leather, little dirty, very used condition), while the outside of the cap is brand new. Furthermore it looks to me that the sewing of the "plastic" inside the bottom of the cap, has been hand done, while normally, this was done by machines.

[Bobwirtz]

I'm sure you've heard this a thousand times... every time somebody brings one of these Waffen-SS piped service caps on the Internet, but I'm going to voice my opinion. In general, the regulations allowing the officers and men of the Waffen-SS to wear their branch colors on their service caps was short term... 8 months in 1940 ending in November. Officers, being given a clothing allowance, had much more opportunity to purchase these caps. On the other hand, the fledgling SS Clothing Works (SS-Bekleidungswerke) was having enough problems manufacturing enough uniforms to outfit the Totenkopf and SS-Polizei-Divisions, and in my opinion (having never seen any supporting documentation to the contrary) the SS-BW did NOT manufacture the service caps in any color other than WHITE. I also doubt if the SS contracted out to have these caps made. In 1940, the large majority of the Waffen-SS was essentially INFANTRY with a few other branches in support: engineers, signals, artillery, panzer (more likely panzerjager), medical, and darned little else. This being the case, and the resources needed to manufacture the articles of clothing that the troops really needed, I doubt if the SS went out of their way to have these caps made for enlisted men. Some professional NCOs may have gone out and privately purchased these caps, but they did so with their meager salaries. If they had family obligations, chances are they didn't bother buying something that was issued for free. So a Waffen-SS cap with branch colors other than white for an NCO/Other Ranks would be far more rare than that of an officer. When the regulation came out in November ordering these caps being worn (as well as soutache on the overseas caps), there was a wear-out period, but that was no more than 6 months at the most. And yes, some guys continued wearing them in the field. Others probably stuffed them into their closets for the duration. And I hear all the time from collectors defending the stand that regulations were often disregarded and I agree with that. However, I think the point that most of these collectors fail to understand is that the MANUFACTURERS and TAILORS did obey the regulations. I'm sure that when the order to stop buying and wearing these caps came out, tailors pulled unsold caps from their shelves and turned them into Army officer caps. Manufacturers and tailors made this stuff for a living, for profit, and were NOT going to continue making caps that nobody was supposed to buy and wear. I'm sure that on occasion, some officer decided to go against regulations and had a cap made. Was this cap scratch made as an SS cap, or did the tailor pull the appropriate ARMY cap from the shelf and transform it? But I believe that these caps are very rare -- far more rare than the MANY examples one sees today, and that the NCO/Other Ranks caps are extremely rare!!!

This cap: Is this Cavalry/Motorized Reconnaissance? The SS Cavalry Division wasn't around in 1940 when these were authorized and Motorized Reconnaissance before April (effective June) 1942 was copper brown. So this cap would have had to have been made after mid-1942, at least 7 months after the regulation ordering the end of these caps. This would be a case of an NCO/Other Ranks really breaking regulations and not a cap in which was being worn beyond the 'wear out period'. And as previously stated by my colleague, the inside wear doesn't match the outside wear.

So, whenever one of these caps shows up, either on a forum or at a show, etc. I take a very skeptical approach to it... it's sort of like 'military justice' -- prove your innocence rather than the court proving your guilt. I'll believe they are bad until proven they are good... and then still be a bit skeptical about it.

That's the last I'll say on the subject of Waffen-SS Service Caps with branch piping in colors other than WHITE...

Bob

[Lucky Duck]

8

The rectangular label under the sweatshield may well have been recycled from an old civilian garment. I'm not sure, but I think I see empty stitch holes in it.

[Bob Coleman]

[SgtB]

Another parts cap.

[Ken B.]

Thanks guys....

I'll take your advice.