Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold Feldmütze? Please help!

[Nr16Lueneburg]

Hello gentlemen,

at first I thought this cap is an early Federal Republic of Germany field cap, but it doesn't match any known organisation.

A kind collector in a Facebook group pointed me in the direction of the Reichsbanner.

I can see where he has the idea from. The triangular cloth insignia and the colour of the cap match up with known Reichsbanner caps .

This one seems to be homemade. It's made from a khaki/green velvet like fabric on the outside and blue cotton (?) fabric on the inside.

I've bought the cap from an 87 year old lady and her nearly 90 years old husband on a flea market in Hamburg.

The location would match perfectly with the Reichsbanner, as Hamburg was a hotspot for the organisation.

I've added a photo from a textbook Reichsbanner cap.
On period pictures you can see lots of different variants of Reichsbanner caps.

Any information is highly appreciated.

Thanks and greetings from northern Germany!

[ErWeSa]

I have hesitated to comment on this cap so far as I wanted to wait for the specialists' opinions.

For me this seems to be, as you stated, a DIY job - the construction, the workmanship and the material is far from what one would expect from an "official" cap. Perhaps the lady tries to make some extra money with her tailoring. Did she give any explanation what the cap should be?

[Nr16Lueneburg]

Thanks for your reply ErWeSa!
The Lady didn't know anything about the cap, she just told me that she got it from an estate sale in Hamburg. I've written a message to the Reichsbanner, as it was refounded after the war in western Germany.
They told me that the cap itself looks Hungarian in its shape, but the triangular cloth insignia looks similar to the one in the collection I've shown to you.
They've also told me that it's an interesting cap, as it shows local variations in the triangular insignia.
If it would be possible to date the introduction of the triangular insignia it would be more likely to id the time my cap was made.
The cap itself feels definitely older than just a few years.
I know it's unlikely to pinpoint exactly where and when the cap was made, unless you have photo evidence or solid provenance, as it is a most likely homemade piece.
Maybe someone has already seen such a cap or has photo evidence and can help me out a good bit. Otherwise the origins of the cap will stay a mystery.

I'm happy to get more opinions, but I know it's a hard nut to crack.

Thanks and greetings from northern Germany!

[ErWeSa]

Hungarian was a good tip - the Hungarian caps of this kind have indeed quite a high crown. Sometimes coincidence plays a funny role - I happen to be reading a book about the Austrian army after WW1 and there was the "Deutschnationale Bewegung". They used a similar homemade insignia (shown in the book) - maybe that's a possibility (if the is cap really that old) as they seem to have been active in Hungary as well. Here is some information on the subject (no problem for you as a Germanophone): Das deutschnationale Lager | Der Erste Weltkrieg

[Nr16Lueneburg]

Thanks a lot for your reply again ErWeSa!
That's a possibility!
Do you have a photo of the insignia you referred to?
Greetings from northern Germany!

[ErWeSa]

Here you are:



The whole cap is different (not Hungarian and with the flaps) and so is the cockade - homemade as well as it seems but round and not triangular.

Grüße in den Norden!

EDIT: Sorry about the rotated picture! Sometimes it happens....

[Nr16Lueneburg]

I think we could be on the right track with this one!
Thanks again for your efforts!
I'll try to get more information about the Deutschnationalen or possible Reichsbanner groups from the area.
As soon as I have new information, I'm going to post it here!
If someone has any additional information or other opinions, please let me know!

Thanks and greetings from northern Germany!