Original Item: Only One Available. The Soldatenbund (Registered Soldier’s League) was an early Veteran's association founded in 1936, which proved to be very short lived. Two years later in 1938 it was merged with the Kyffhäuserbund as part of the NSDAP-ification of that organization, forming the National Socialist Veteran's Association, which would be the only approved veteran's organization until the fall of the NSDAP in 1945.

This cap is a very nice example of an early pattern German Pre-WWII Soldatenbund Members Schirmmütze (visor cap), which was later updated with a transitional Kyffhäuserbund band insignia after the groups were merged. It also features gilt insignia with an EM/NCO style chinstrap, so we do not know what level of member this was for.

This example is in very good condition, showing light use during service. It features very dark navy blue (or possibly black) construction with a black ribbed band and a traditional high forward crown. The cap also has matching Gold-gelb (Gold Yellow) piping along the top edge and flanking either side of the band, the Corps Color (Waffenfarbe) for cavalry, reconnaissance, and armored reconnaissance with cavalry traditions. It was traditional for members of the Soldatenbund to have caps bearing the corps color of their service branch, so this cap was owned by a cavalry veteran.

It is decorated with a Gilt aluminum Soldatenbund cap eagle on the peak, which features the Reichsadler National Eagle surmounted by crossed swords and an Iron Cross. The cap band is decorated with an open gilt plated oak leaf and acorn wreath surrounding the early Kyffhäuserbund insignia on the band, which still has the monument in the center, and not the Swas. Both insignia are in great shape, with lots of the original gilding present, showing some oxidation, particularly on the band insignia from contact with the chinstrap.

The cap is equipped with an EM/NCO style black patent leather double buckle chinstrap, held in place by gloss black buttons on the sides. The leather is still in very good shape, showing some degradation to the gloss finish, as is usual.

The vulcanfibre visor has a smooth black leather-look upper, exhibiting light wear and finish crazing and checking consistent with age, and is checkered green on the underside. I has oilcloth faux leather trim on the visor, which shows wear from use. The tan leather sweatband is in very good condition, still supple and showing no major damage, however the stitching on the front is mostly pulled out. With the short window that the organization existed during, it's not surprising that the condition is so good. Size seems to be about a 57-58cm.

The inside of the cap is lined with a brown lightweight oilcloth style fabric on the top, with "service cloth" type lining on the sides. The top plastic shield is still mostly present, with the stitching mostly intact, and underneath are still the complete original Soldatenbund official markings:

(Soldatenbund Eagle)
Die vorſchriftsmäſzig Mütze
des Soldatenbundes
Ges. Gesch.

This basically translates to "The Regulation cap of the Soldier's League", and indicates that it is a trademarked design.

The cap is in very good shape, showing some light wear around the crown, though there is definitely moth damage on the crown of the cap. There are numerous holes that show the tricot lining underneath. The support for the front insignia has also detached from the cap band.

A great example of an early German Soldier's League cap, later repurposed after the organization merged with the Kyffhäuserbund. Ready to display!

The German Schirmmütze Visor Cap:
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.