Original German WWII Early SA General Issue Stormtrooper Tan "Coffee Can" Kepi by L. Krauth

Original Item: Only One available. This is a very nice early pattern German WWII SA "Stormtrooper" Kepi (Dienstmütze), often called a "Coffee Can Hat." It is made of "whipcord weave" light service cloth type canvas, but unlike most we have, this one does not have colored fabric or felt on the upper portion to indicate which Gruppe it is from. We have looked at it thoroughly, and cannot find any evidence that it ever had this covering, so it is for General issue to members who were not associated with a particular Gruppe early in the organizations history.

These caps were worn by SA personnel, especially the "Stormtrooper" groups. It is made from heavy tan canvas, with an an early pattern plated alloy Reichsadler (National Eagle) on the front top. We can see staining and holes on the side indicating that it did at one point have the correct leather chinstrap, however it is now missing, along with both retaining buttons. The interior has a light brown "service cloth" type lining with a brown oilcloth faux leather sweatband. There is no RZM tag or any size markings, however there is a faint maker stamp on the inside of the crown that reads L KRAUTH. It seems to be a size 57-58cm, or 7 1/8-7 1/4 US.

Condition of the kepi is very good, and it still retains the original shape well. The exterior light brown fabric is in very good shape, with minor staining and tears, showing some wear through on the top edge. The front brim is definitely a bit degraded, and we can feel multiple ripples and bends in the cardboard stiffener, as well as some areas it has become somewhat soft. There is also a stain on the front of the cap under the eagle, so there may have been another insignia installed at some point. The oilcloth liner shows loss of the lacquer layer and wear from use, as well as some wears of fraying and wear through. There are also several tears all the way through the material. These are rare in any condition, and this is definitely a very nice example that saw long use during the period.

A hard to find SA Stormtrooper Kepi, ready to display!

Sturmabteilung, literally Storm Detachment, was the NSDAP Party's original paramilitary. It played a significant role in Adolf AH's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s. Its primary purposes were providing protection for NSDAP rallies and assemblies, disrupting the meetings of opposing parties, fighting against the paramilitary units of the opposing parties, especially the Red Front Fighters League (Rotfrontkämpferbund) of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), and intimidating Romani, trade unionists, and, especially, Jews – for instance, during the NSDAP boycott of Jewish businesses.

The SA were also called the "Brownshirts" (Braunhemden) from the color of their uniform shirts, similar to Benito Mussolini's blackshirts. The SA developed pseudo-military titles for its members, with ranks that were later adopted by several other NSDAP Party groups, chief amongst them the Schutzstaffel (SS), which originated as a branch of the SA before being separated. Brown-colored shirts were chosen as the SA uniform because a large number of them were cheaply available after World War I, having originally been ordered during the war for colonial troops posted to Germany's former African colonies.

The SA became disempowered after Adolf AH ordered the "blood purge" of 1934. This event became known as the Night of the Long Knives (die Nacht der langen Messer). The SA continued to exist, but was effectively superseded by the SS, although it was not formally dissolved until after NSDAP Germany's final capitulation to the Allies in 1945.