Kepi, M1933: O/Rs, SA-Gruppe Südwest, Sturmabteilung (SA)

Rigid flat-topped cap with a rigid peak made of brown cloth. The kepi is faced with yellow-orange cloth and has a white metal eagle and swastika badge, of the early pattern, attached to the front with a single button beneath made of white metal. There is an adjustable chinstrap fitted above the peak made of brown leather.

The 'Kepi' was the first item of headdress adopted by the Sturmabteilung (SA) in 1925. From 1929, a metal eagle and swastika cap badge was fitted, later redesigned in 1934 and 1936, and from 1933 coloured panels were added. The facing colour indicating the Gruppe, or district, to which the unit was recruited from (in this case, SA-Gruppe Südwest) and this corresponded with the facings of the uniform collar patches and backing of the shoulder straps. Additional decoration in the form of piping and braiding indicated rank but a kepi void of these distinctions was typical for the rank and file.