EM SS Overseas Cap

Product Description: This EM SS Overseas Cap is a great example of a Waffen-SS field cap style which saw use in nearly the entire war. The body of this handsome cap is made of typical wartime feldgrau wool. The wool appears to be fairly coarse, with evidence of use of recycled fibers, and retains the original surface nap. The cut of this cap is that of those issued to Kriegsmarine Coastal Artillery troops, rather than being the typical SS cut, but this type of cap is absolutely accepted as one that was seen in use by SS units. The front of the cap bears a complete set of SS insignia, with a Totenkopf below an eagle and swastika emblem. This insignia is completely original to the cap, both pieces factory applied with zig-zag machine stitching in black thread. The insignia is extremely nice with strong color and no wear or damage. Inside, this EM SS Overseas Cap is lined with typical cotton twill fabric. There is no maker stamp, only the size “58” stamped in black ink. This cap does not appear to have ever been worn. It has no stains, holes or other damage, and remains all-original, and almost factory fresh. It’s a very nice period piece, in outstanding, near mint condition.

Historical Description: The “side cap” was a part of the uniform worn by nearly all military, paramilitary, political and civil organizations in the Third Reich. It was a narrow hat that could be folded flat and tucked into a belt or haversack. This was, at the time, a very stylish type of uniform cap; in the German Army, it replaced the round “pork pie” style of field cap used in the Great War. The German name for this cap, in most organizations, was “Feldmütze”- field cap. Despite the name, it was often worn as a daily service cap by postal workers and other personnel who would never be deployed to the field.  The men and women who wore the side cap gave it the nickname “Schiffchen,” meaning little boat, due to its shape. The side caps were made in the same type of fabric as the uniforms, in the uniform color particular to each organization. The side caps were adorned with branch-specific insignia, usually bearing some form of the German eagle and swastika national emblem. Many side caps also bore red, white, and black national cockades. The insignia were usually embroidered or woven, but metal devices were used on some caps as well. Officer caps generally were distinguished by silver braid along the top edge and/or on the upper part of the flap at the front of the cap and were often custom tailored from fine fabrics. The German military, and many other organizations, had broadly replaced the side cap with a new, more practical cap featuring a brim, by 1943. But the side cap continued to be worn by some troops until the end of the war.

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