Original Item: Only One Available. The NSDAP or Nationalsozialistische Deutsche ArbeiterPartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), was originally founded in Munich as the DAP, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (German Worker’s Party), on January 5TH 1919. When Adolf AH joined the DAP in the autumn of 1919 he was to reform what was basically a debating society into an active political party. Appointed as the first chairman of the party on July 29TH 1921, AH was to restructure it along para-military lines in a hierarchy.

This new NSDAP structure consisted of four ascending levels of government: the Ortsgruppenleitung (Local group leadership), the Kreisleitung (District leadership), the Gauleitung (Regional District leadership), and the Reichsleitung (National leadership). Each group was distinguished by a specific color of piping on the collar tabs and visor cap. From 1936 to 1939 in this scheme, light blue was for the Ortsgruppe level, black for Kreis level, burgundy red for Gau level, and gold yellow for the Reich level. After that the Kreis level changed to white piping.

This is very nice example of a rare German WWII NSDAP Ortsgruppe (Local Group) Level Political Leader's Visor Cap in an approximate size of 58cm. Very similar to the military issue Schirmmütze (Peaked Cap), these were usually referred to as a Dienstmütze (Service Cap) or Tuchmütze (Cloth Cap). The cap shows high quality fabrication, made from tan "whipcord woven" wool or cotton fabric, and a traditional high front. The cap has the typical triple piping around the circumference, the light blue for the Ortsgruppe level leader. The cap band is a lovely dark tan velvet plush material.

It is decorated with a well detailed cast brass gilt spread-wing NSDAP Reichsadler (national eagle) insignia on the front, and an open cast metal gilt oak leaf wreath surrounding a metal tri-color cockade on the velvet band. The cockade has a small swas (hook cross) in the middle, only seen on these party leadership caps. The insignia all look great, with just a bit of oxidation in areas. It has a wonderful gold bullion cord "chinstrap", attached to the cap by gold-washed pebbled aluminum buttons, indicating that this cap is for an Officer / Leader. The visor / peak on this cap is dark brown finished "vulcanfibre", the standard material for NCOs and Officers alike, with a checkered light brown underside.

The cap is lined with cream colored rayon fabric, and the diamond celluloid sweat shield is almost completely intact, along with most of the stitching. There is no size marking on the interior, but there is an intact ((RZM)) label under the sweatband, which identifies this as a TUCHMÜTZE, and gives the Hersteller (Supplier) number 20 with issue number 486989. The sweatband itself is made from beige finished oilcloth faux leather, which unfortunately has become dried out and stiff over the decades. It has a lot of cracking in the finish, but no tears or major damage.

The cap is in very good exterior condition overall, showing very little wear or staining to the light brown fabric. The piping has suffered minor mothing, particularly the bottom and center rows. The velvet band is in very good condition are are the insignia. These caps are very rare, and this is the first example that we have been able to locate in some time. In fine condition, this cap is ready to display!