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The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

Article about: Thanks for the feedback guys. Sorry to tease you with the visor again Erich !

  1. #1

    Default The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    Hi

    Thanks for looking onto the thread.

    Not sure if this has been done before but I thought it might be of some interest to post a "timeline" showing the evolution of the service cap.

    The aim is to cover the changes in regulations and development of the service cap through the Imperial,Weimar and Third Reich periods.

    The idea is to put examples with each section to illustarte what the cap looks like and thus visually highlight the changes.

    The information below is purely my understanding of the matter and is certainly not to be taken verbatim. Any additions, corrections and postive criticism will be gratefully received.

    cheers
    tony.

    A Brief History......

    The peaked cap developed from the common soldiers "stable cap" popular in the early 1800's.

    The stable cap was worn more and more in place of a helmet which at this time where uncomfortable, ill fitting and burdensome.

    The peaked cap was initially reserved for officers and then later for senior NCO's (1844 onwards for the rank of feldwebel).

    From 1873 the peaked cap became a standard piece of clothing issued by the uniform depots to NCO's.

    The ranks were not granted this item as a regular piece of their outfits until 1919.

    The Imperial Cap.

    Officers headgear was made of a dyed cloth and always provided with a peak.

    The style of these caps uptill 1900 was governed by fashion and the changing nature of the German army as states were absorbed into the empire from 1866 onwards. A certain standardisation was required towards the PRUSSIAN style of headress as the dominant state.

    The peaked caps for Prussian Officers followed a simple colour scheme and were made of blue cloth and had a red cap band. Ofiicer cockades served as ornaments.

    As the caps were all private purchase the materials, linings and quality of cloth varied.

    Caps for officers unlike the field cap were stiffened at the sides as well as the top.

    Wearing of the blue officers cap was permitted until 1913.

    Below are the examples of a Bavarian nco cap circa 1890, another Bavarian nco cap with the addition of the state cockade from 1897 onwards, and an officers cap showing the state cockade for Hesse circa 1900-1910.


    The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

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  3. #2

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    The officers uniform introduced in 1910 allowed for the introduction of the field grey colour that now defines the German army for the period upuntill 1945.

    The example below has a leather chinstrap above the visor but retains the red cap band and piping for the infantry. It has the national cockade for Prussian and velvet cap band and cockade interiors.

    The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l


    The next change came in 1915 with the introduction of a cap with field grey visor and chinstrap. This is commonly known as the future "peace time" uniform.

    Unfortunately I do not have an example of this but if anyone can post one for reference (or sell me one cool ) that would be appreciated.

    Both of these style of caps continued to be worn until the end of the war in 1918/1919. They were then utilised in the new German Army well into the 1920's.

    Next post will be 1919 onwards.......

  4. #3

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    The Reichswehr

    In 1919 exact descriptions were issued for the new models for parts of the uniform. These included those for caps.

    The service cap was a so called tellermutze or saucer shape and made of "other ranks" field grey cloth. The cap band was made of field grey cloth and the cap was based on the 1917 universal field cap.

    Coloured piping was placed on the crown and top/bottom of cap band to distinguish branch of service.

    A black chin strap was added as was a stamped metal oakleaf along with state and national cockades. This was later replaced by the reichsadler insignia.

    There was no distinction between officer and other ranks caps in terms of insignia and all caps had the black leather chinstrap. Private purchase caps were of a much higher quality than the Army issue ones.

    In 1920 the cap was officially accepted into the new Reichswehr.

    The two examples below date from 1921 and 1922 respectively. They are made from the rough tunic wool as prescribed by regulations.

    The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    In March 1927 new regulations changed some dimensions of the service cap but the major change in this year saw the introduction of a higher quality tri-cot material. The other significant change was that officers caps would now have cords instead of a chin strap. These were silver for ranks upto colonel and gold for senior officers.

    The caps below are both private purchase. The signals other ranks demonstrates the new tri-cot material and the officers cap is a high quality Robert Lubstein made jager cap with the silver cords. Both caps have had TR insignia added.

  5. #4

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    These two caps also serve as good examples for the next change in regulations from 1931.

    Here the front height of the cap was changed to 11.8cm instead of the previous 11.5cm. The jager cap being pre 1931 and the signals post 1931.

    Thus began the more "modern" appearance and the form most associated with the third reich.

    The subject of my next post.

  6. #5

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    Great thread and a lot of information.
    Looking forward to next posts.
    Cheers.
    Nuno

  7. #6
    ?

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    Excellent stuff Tony. Look foward to the next instalment.

  8. #7

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    sorry for delay in posting caps but I lost my 1927 pics. Now done some more and here they are.....

    Also below is shot of all four officer caps from each stage together.

    The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

  9. #8

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    A few more modifications were made in the 1934 regulations and these included the use of a 15x3cm cork or red sponge rubber band to ease the weight off the forehead.

    That's the annoying bit of disintegrated red powder that drops out of a hat every time you look at it. Always a good sign to see in any cap. It's the bit that dries out and crumbles away.....sure sign of cap age.

    Also about this time contract caps started coming with the rust coloured waterproof material lining as standard.

    The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l


    Final change I want to raise came in late 1935 when the field grey cap band was officially changed to dark-blue green.

    Also of note is the fact that although the fashion and style of TR caps was that of the saddle version, the regulation cap was always the tellermutze and this was never changed.

    Final pictures show the new coloured band on a Arty other ranks in the style of the tellermutze and for comparison a nice saddle shaped Arty officers.

    Thanks for reading this far !!!! Any comments welcomed.

    The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945lThe evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

  10. #9
    ?

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    Quote by spandau View Post
    or red sponge rubber band to ease the weight off the forehead.
    Ah, the Gummipolster! my favourite German hat makers term.

  11. #10
    ?

    Default Re: The evolution of the Army Service Cap 1900 to 1945l

    Tony,
    Thanks for taking the time to put this together, splendidly done. I just love that early signals visor of yours!

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