History

The DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront = German Labour Front) was the result of a forced association of all German trade unions, established on May 10, 1933. Its purpose was the coordination and control of all aspects of German labour to serve the interests of the NSDAP. The DAF leader was Reichsleiter Robert Ley.

The Werkscharen (Factory Brigades) of the DAF were the “soldiers” of the organisation, formed in 1934. They were trained and organised as paramilitary, uniformed units, yet remained unarmed. Beginning in April 1937, active Werkschar units (Stoßtrupps) would wear silver-coloured insignia, while administrators wore gold-coloured insignia. Even though Werkscharen were not affiliated with the Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB, National Air Raid Protection League), during the war they often functioned as factory air raid protection auxiliaries.
Some companies, especially major corporations, used additional security personnel, which were dubbed Werkschutz (Factory Protection), and later Werksicherheitsdienst (Factory Security Service).

The first version of the Werkschar Field Cap was introduced in February of 1936, in the “Lagermütze” (camp cap) style. It is plain without piping and features the DAF cogwheel emblem on the front above the flap, with two white or silver-coloured buttons on the flap below it. The flap is non-functional and was sewn to the cap body.

The second version was introduced in April 1937. This version is in the “Schiffchen” (overseas cap) style. It also has two buttons at the front, but instead of the cogwheel insignia it features a “political” style national eagle emblem like the one worn on NSDAP caps. This eagle insignia was generally embroidered, but wear of metal eagles has been observed on occasion as well. Gold-coloured eagles for the highest ranks were introduced in 1938.
The flap was still non-functional and sewn to the cap body.

There is piping on the upper edge of the flap and on both sides of the central fold. Initially the colour represented a regional level: Ort (location) or Betrieb (factory) was light blue, Kreis (district) was black, Gau (greater district) was red, and Reich (national level) was gold-coloured. This was changed in March of 1938. The region-specific piping colours were discontinued and replaced by either gold-coloured or silver-coloured piping, depending on rank. The button colour mirrored the piping colour.