Physical Description

Piping: cornflower blue

History

The Old Style Visor Cap was introduced on March 24, 1934. It is also known as the “crush cap”, because it could be folded away when not in use. The top was made of field-grey wool, the cap band is dark green, and the visor was made of soft black leather. The cap had no chin cord, although one was added to some, especially later in the war when regulations called for a cap with a chin cord.

The insignia were rather plain compared to the ones on the later visor cap. Initially, only a machine-woven oak leaf wreath with cockade was worn on the cap band, but on October 30, 1935 the eagle insignia was added, also machine-woven.

The colour of the piping follows the branch colours, however, General ranks had gold-coloured piping. The cap insignia, the national eagle and the red, white, and black cockade inside a wreath of oak leaves, were embroidered.

The cap was not distributed anymore after April 1942 and slowly faded out of use. However, due to its popularity, some were worn until the end of the war.

Prices will vary significantly depending on the branch, since caps of certain branches are very rare.

Branch colours on German Heer headgear was as follows:
Black was worn by Engineer units.
Black/White was worn by Panzer Engineers.
Copper Brown was worn by Motorcycle personnel.
Light Brown was worn by Signals units until 1936, and by Construction troops.
Carmine was worn by the Führer Staff, General Staff Officers, Staff Officers of the Supreme Command of the Army, and all Veterinary branches.
Bordeaux Red was worn by Smoke & Chemical personnel.
Wine Red was worn by Judicial officials.
Bright Red was worn by Generals, Artillery units, and Ordnance Officers (until 1944).
Rose or Pink was worn by all Armored units (including Panzer troops, and Schützen Brigade Staff).
Orange was worn by Recruiting personnel, Ordnance troops, Ordnance Officers (since 1944), and Field Gendarmerie units.
Bright yellow was worn by Cavalry units, and Light Division Staff.
Lemon yellow was worn by Signal units.
White was worn by Infantry units.
Light Grey was worn by Propaganda personnel.
Grey-Blue was worn by Sonderführer (Specialist Officers).
Violet was worn by Chaplains and Field Bishops.
Cornflower Blue was worn by Medical units, and Supply units.
Bright Blue was worn by Transport troops.
Bright Green was worn by Jäger and Mountain units.
Grass Green was worn by Panzer Grenadier units (Armored Infantry).
Dark Green was worn by Administrative personnel.