WW2 GERMAN KRIEGSMARINE (NAVY) PEAK HAT.
The Kriegsmarine clothing regulations differed from the Army and Luftwaffe in that enlisted personnel did not wear visor caps although all ranks from senior NCO’s upward did and regulations dictated the form of dress they were to be worn with based on the individuals rank. Officer and certain senior NCO ranks were responsible for purchasing their own caps and as a result were allotted a clothing allowance through the Kriegsmarine Kleiderkasse, (Clothing Account), system. The Officers and senior NCO’s could choose to purchase their caps directly from the armed forces clothing depots or to privately purchase visor caps of higher quality. Kriegsmarine officer’s visor cap also differed from their counterparts in the army and Luftwaffe in that they did not utilize the twisted chincords to denote rank as they proved impractical for actual usage and the leather chinstraps were worn instead. As a result of the use of the leather chinstraps there was no way to determine Officer’s from NCO’s until regulations of May 13th 1936 introduced new identifying visor trim for officers ranks to distinguish them from the NCO’s. The new visor trim came in three different patterns with one pattern for Company Grade Officers, one for Field Grade Officers and the third for Flag Officers. Of Note: Kriegsmarine Administrative officials visor caps were distinguished from other Kriegsmarine personnel’s visor caps by the use of silver insignia and the twisted chincords.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Salty, private purchase, dark navy blue wool construction cap with a black, horizontally ribbed centre band and a non-removable top. The top front centre of the cap has a gold hand embroidered national eagle with out-stretched wings. The lower front centre of the centre band has a hand embroidered oak-leaf wreath in gold/aluminum wire threads which like the eagle have worn and lost their colour due to sevice at sea and a national tri-color cockade in black and silver wire threads with an inserted red felt centerpiece. The wreath and cockade are mounted on a padded, cut-out navy blue wool base which is neatly hand stitched to the cap. The leather chinstrap is missing but the two gilt metal buttons are there. The cap has an extended, black lacquered forward visor with simulated black leather trim to the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in mid-blue brushed rayon. The grey leather sweatband is present The sweat diamond has been period removed. This cap is as you like them showing signs of use during WW2 and has that salty been there appearance.