Germany, NSKOV. A National Socialist War Victim’s Care Enlisted Personnel Visor Cap, by K.M. Stahl

(Nationalsozialistische Kriegsopferversorgung Schirmmütze). A well-preserved National Socialist War Victim’s Care (NSKOV) enlisted personnel visor cap, constructed of dark blue wool. The cap features bands of light blue piping fully surrounding the crown, as well as the top and bottom of the cap band. Pinned into the peak of the cap is an insignia in the form of silvered bronze NSKOV-style German national eagle, clutching a banner marked “NSKOV” in its talons, and overlaid by a NSKOV insignia. It measures 52 mm (w) x 50 mm (h). Pinned into the centre of the cap band is a tri-colour cockade constructed of silvered and blue bronze with a red felt centrepiece. The cap is flanked on each side by a blackened magnetic metal button securing in place a brown leather chinstrap, adjusted with dual magnetic metal buckles, which rests upon the visor when not in use. The visor is constructed of vulcanfibre and is painted black on the obverse. The interior features a brown leather sweatband measuring 45 mm in width, and has a complete black rayon reverse liner. Stitched into the crown is a transparent moisture guard bearing a maker’s mark of “K.M. STAHL MÜTZENFABRIKATION, MÜNCHEN 15, LANDWEHRSTR. 49”. A paper insert inside of the moisture guard is marked with a size stamp of “56”. The cap measures approximately 245 mm (w) x 265 mm (l) x 160 mm (h). Issues relating to age and use are evident, including material fatigue of the wool, leather, and vulcanfibre features, with additional loss of finish to the insignia. The cap is in an overall better than very fine condition.