History

The uniforms, headgear, and insignia of the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei or NSDAP) went through several design changes from 1933 until the end of the Second World War. Dr. Ley, originally the Gauleiter of Rheinland and later promoted to the position of chief of staff of Party Organization and Reich Organization Leader, was largely responsible for the NSDAP rank system and uniforms.

The standardized production and circulation of all NSDAP uniform garments, headgear, and insignia were overseen by the National Material Control Office (RZM or Reichszeugmeisterei). The RZM was created in July 1934, and it was located in Munich. From 1935 onward, all NSDAP uniform garments and insignia were legally required to feature an RZM control mark or tag, as well as a number mark on metal insignia or belt buckles. These marks indicate the authenticity of the object, the type of insignia or garment, and identify the manufacturer.

The field cap, also known as the overseas cap and the fatigue cap, was worn mainly at training facilities for future political leaders, most likely not earlier than spring of 1934. It has a large amount of variation.

These caps are composed of a brown material. On rare occasions, dark blue or black caps were used. On the front, either a gold-coloured NSDAP style eagle button or a cockade was worn. Additionally, the cap features an eagle emblem insignia. The eagle may be composed of silver (early) or gilt (later) bullion, or machine-woven thread, and it could be placed on the front of the cap or on the side. The eagle emblems placed on the side of the cap usually had a brown downward pointing triangle cloth backing.

Some field caps did not feature any piping, while others were piped either on the flap or the crown. The colours were the same as for the visor cap, with Reich (national) level school caps featuring yellow piping, Gau (large district) level schoo caps featuring red piping, and Kreis (district) level schools featuring black piping. There were no Ort (local) level leader schools.