Original German WWII Luftwaffe Flakkorps Unit Marked EM/NCO Visor Cap by CRIHA Christian Haug in Size 56 ½ - Dated 1937

Original Item: Only One available. This is a lovely condition Luftwaffe Flak Artillery EM/NCO Schirmmütze Visor Cap, which is size marked 56 ½ along with a 1937 date. The interior is still clearly marked under the celluloid "diamond" sweat shield on the crown of the cap with the maker information:

Deutſche-Qualitätsarbeit
· GUT UND ·
GRIHA
· DAUERHAFT ·
Christian Haug
BERLIN NO 18
Höchstestr.29
56½

This wonderful honest example is an original high quality manufactured cap, and still has the original crown support stiffener ring, so the sides of the crown have not slumped down over the years. It has a lovely relaxed look that looks great. It is fabricated in Luftwaffe blue gray Fliegerblau ( Flier's Blue) "doeskin" weave wool gabardine, with wide black ribbed wool cap band, plus three rows of deep red (tiefrot) color piping around the circumference. This is the Luftwaffe Waffenfarbe (corps color) for Anti-aircraft troops and other Artillery.

The visor cap is decorated with the correct insignia, including a finely-detailed aluminum eagle of the early-war "droop tail" design on the peak, and an oak leaf wreath with stylized wings and central tri-color cockade on the band; the latter is made of aluminum with a red and black painted kokarde (cockade). The black-finished patent leather chin strap rests just above the visor and is made up of three pieces: the central piece with two magnetic metal buckles and joined to the flanking end pieces via oval loops, the end pieces attached to black finished buttons on either side. The finish is in great shape, showing just a few chips.

The visor is the classic black color with stitched edge trim, made of pressed vulcanfibre, and has a checkered green underside. The edge trim is faux leather, and does show some deterioration due to age and wear, however it is still fully intact with complete stitching. The visor is still relatively well attached to the cap, though some of the stitching has rotted out.

The inside of the cap is lined with light brown "service cloth", with the dome brandishing a celluloid moisture shield that looks great, and has fully intact stitching. The markings underneath are fully legible, as described previously. The sweatband is made of beige finished leather, however it has unfortunately torn and deteriorated quite a bit, as has the red rubber padding under the forehead area. There are some sections missing as well, and it is in overall delicate condition. However, in spite of this, it has a lovely maker stamp with a date on the underside, which reads:

CHRISTIAN HAUG
MÜTZENFABRIK
BERLIN NO18
HÖCHSTESTR.29
1937

Even better, there is even a unit marking next to this, which reads I. / Fl. R. 7.,which we assume would be 1st Battery, Flak Regiment 7, or something similar. Definitely some great research potential here!

Overall condition is very nice, still retaining the colors very well, with just a bit of staining around the edge of the crown. There are just a few moth nips that we can see, mostly to the red piping, and it looks to have been well cared for over the years.

This is a great Luftwaffe Flak Artillery EM/NCO peaked visor cap, offered in very good used condition. Ready to research and display!

The visor cap (Schirmmütze) was an important part of the headgear worn by German uniformed military, civil, paramilitary and political organizations during the Third Reich. This was the standard cloth headgear worn as a part of the service uniform. Visor caps were worn outdoors as well as indoors, and were often required to be worn by all personnel on duty. Visor caps were made in versions specific to each organization and were often further differentiated through the use of insignia, colored piping, or style of chin cord, to indicate rank, role or branch. The insignia used on these caps ranged from simple stamped metal emblems, to elaborate hand embroidery. Visor caps were issued to enlisted soldiers and NCOs in the military and in some other organizations. Officers had to purchase their own hats, and lower ranks could choose to purchase caps that were of a higher quality than the rather basic, issue examples. The private purchase caps were generally made in very high quality, with fine materials. A wide variety of fabrics were used, from Trikot and doeskin, to heavy wool, or even lightweight white fabric for summer wear. In the military, issue of these caps was generally suspended shortly after the outbreak of the war, but they continued to be worn by some troops until the end of the war.