Germany, SS. A Dress Uniform Fez of the 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS “Handschar”

(Fes der 3. Waffen-Gebirgs-Division der SS „Handschar“). A very well-preserved dress uniform fez of the 13th Waffen Mountain Division of the SS “Handschar”, constructed of heavy red wool. The crown features a tassel consisting of a red wool tube bearing an array of braided black silk threads, with several of the threads stitched to the structure of the fez, preventing them from obstructing the wearer’s vision. Stitched into the peak of the fez is an insignia in the form of a silver-grey, machine-embroidered, BeVo-style SS eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. Set on a black rayon background, the eagle measures 70 mm (w) x 32 mm (h). Underneath the eagle is a SS Totenkopf insignia, constructed of silver-grey, BeVo-style machine embroidery on a black rayon background, measuring 35 mm (w) x 34 mm (h). The interior presents plain with the exception of a blackened leather sweatband, measuring 48 mm in width. The fez is unmarked and measures approximately 190 mm in diameter, with a height of 100 mm when worn. Patched of mothing and material fatigue are evident, and approximately half of the sweatband has disintegrated and been lost. The fez is in an overall very fine condition.