Germany, SS. A Rare Waffen-SS General’s Visor Cap

(SS Schirmmütze für General). A rare and well-preserved late war example of a Waffen-SS General’s visor cap, constructed of field-grey whipcord wool. The cap features reinforced side walls lined on the exterior with a smooth black doeskin band, in turn trimmed along both the top and bottom edges with silver aluminum piping. An additional band of identical lines the outer edge of the crown. Pinned to the peak of the cap is a silvered zink insignia consisting of a SS-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. Measuring 65.25 mm (w) x 31.68 mm (h), the eagle retains all three magnetic metal reverse attachment prongs. Pinned onto the cap band just underneath the eagle is an additional silvered zink insignia in the form of a second pattern SS-style Totenkopf, measuring 31.26 mm (w) x 29.57 mm (h). The Totenkopf similarly retains both of its reverse attachment prongs. The cap band is flanked on each side by pebbled aluminum buttons, securing in place a decorative chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled silver aluminum wire. The chinstrap is adjusted with dual sliding knots of identical construction. It rests upon a protruding vulcanfibre visor, finished in a matte black on the obverse and in grey on the reverse. The visor is securely stitched into the interior structure of the cap, which also features a light brown sweatband along the lower edge, measuring 35 mm in width. The interior is fully encompassed with a grey rayon lined, with the crown retaining an intact transparent plastic moisture guard. Inserted into the guard is a paper label bearing a size stamp of “57”. The cap is otherwise unmarked and measures approximately 245 mm (w) x 250 mm (l) x 160 mm (h). Issues consistent with age and field use are evident, and include loss of finish to the insignia, oxidation of the chinstrap wire, deterioration of the sweatband, and some minor structural distortion. This rare cap is in an overall better than very fine condition.