Description
Physical description
cap
field-grey peaked service dress cap. The cap's body is made of ribbed material and the cap band of black velvet. The rigid peak is made of fibre and has a cream coloured underside. There is silver metallic piping to crown and both upper and lower edges of the black velvet band. Attached to the cap by two small matt silver painted stipple-patterned buttons is a set of officer quality silver wire cap cords. To the front of the cap (on the centre of cap band is mounted a white metal 1934 pattern death's head badge ('totenkopf'). Above this is mounted a white metal second pattern SS eagle and swastika badge.
Inside, the cap is lined in orange cloth and features a diamond-shaped triangle of celluloid. The sweatband is made of artificial leather and has two stamps to the underside.
(Note: both the 'totenkopf' and cap eagle badges have been removed and replaced. The skull device has been cleaned and brushed with a lacquer. The eagle is attached to the cap not by the conventional rear-mounted prongs, but by having substitute holes drilled to upper and lower edges of the badge to accommodate sewing thread, and thereby is incorrectly stitched to the headdress).
Label
From 1937 the field grey officer's service dress cap (Schirmmutze) was introduced to similar design as the black version worn by the Allgemeine-SS. Officer status was distinguished by a black velvet cap band and silver wire cap cords. Those caps worn by Generals (SS-Oberfuhrer to SS-Oberstgruppenfuhrer) had silver metallic piping to the crown, and the upper and lower edges of the cap band.
By convention the lining of the cap was made of artificial silk for officers and usually had leather sweatbands, however this piece interestingly differs, having lower quality materials that are usually associated with caps worn by non-commissioned ranks.
1, To the underside of the sweatband.
2, To the right of (1).
3, Stamped in black ink to the orange cloth lining.
1, RZM (within two circles)
2, SS (within two circles)
3, 57 1/2