This item is part of The Notable Figures Auction Series - The Estate of SS-Obergruppenführer Arthur Seyss-Inquart . Click Here to view all items in this collection.
(SS Mütze mit Etui). This is a rare and extremely well-preserved visor cap belonging to SS-Obergruppenführer Arthur Seyss-Inquart, Reichskommissar for the occupied Netherlands. Of multi-piece construction, the cap consists of a smooth field-grey wool crown, fully lined along the circumference with a band of silver aluminum wire piping. The side wall of the cap features a cardboard reinforcement, and is overlaid on the exterior by a black doeskin wool cap band.
The cap band is similarly trimmed at both the top and bottom by silver aluminum wire piping. Pinned into the peak of the cap is an insignia in the form of a SS-style German national eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika. The eagle is constructed of silvered zink, retains both of its reverse attachment prongs, and is marked marked on the reverse with a Reichszeugmeisterei (RZM) code of “M1/167” for Augustin Hicke, Tyssa bei Bodenbach. It measures 64.20 mm (w) x 31.35 mm (h). Underneath the eagle, the cap band bears an insignia in the form of a SS-style Totenkopf. Measuring 31.66 mm (w) x 29.72 mm (h), the Totenkopf is constructed of silvered cupal and retains one of its two reverse attachment prongs. It is marked on the reverse with a RZM logo and maker code “M1/24” for Overhoff & Cie, Lüdenscheid, and retains most of its silver finish.
The cap is flanked on each side by pebbled, silvered, non-magnetic metal buttons which secure in place a decorative chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of silver aluminum wire, each end of which bears a sliding knot of identical construction. The exterior features of the cap are completed by a protruding visor constructed of vulcanfibre, the obverse of which presents with a lacquered black finish, with a field-grey reverse. The interior is fully surrounded by a grey leather sweatband, measuring 48 mm in width and securely held in place by a row of stitching. It is perforated at the forehead with an array of ventilation holes. A light grey rayon liner fully encompasses the interior, with a teardrop-shaped transparent moisture guard stitched into the crown. Inserted into the moisture guard is an off-white paper name tag bearing an inscription of “SS-OBERGRUPPENFÜHRER SEYß INQUART”.
The cap measures approximately 245 mm (w) x 250 mm (l) x 180 mm (h). It is accompanied by its period original presentation case, constructed of heavy card stock with a brown leather exterior liner. The case opens with an integrated brown leather strap, and a second strap bearing a magnetic metal buckle which meets an analogous strap for closure. The interior features a tartan-pattern paper liner, with original pieces of tissue paper. Riveted into the bottom of the interior are dual grey cotton straps which securely hold the cap in place during storage. The case measures 345 mm (w) x 225 mm (h). Also included are two manufacturer’s advertisements and price lists. One bears a name of “GEORG BRAUN, BAD REICHENHALL”, and details products offered by the company.
The second is marked “HANS DÜRBECK, WIEN”, and bears a fully product list with accompanying prices. The former is constructed of off-white card stock and measures 135 mm (w) x 84 mm (h), while the latter is constructed of off-white paper and measures 208 mm (w) x 296 mm (h). Finally, the group includes a black-and-white press photograph of Seyss-Inquart on review of HJ personnel. Undated, the photograph was taken in The Hague and bears an original paper stock label, as well as a studio stamp of “STAPF BILDERDIENST, AMSTERDAM”. It measures 180 mm (w) x 132 mm (h). With the exception of the issue previously noted, the group presents in an overall near extremely fine condition.
Footnote: Arthur Seyß-Inquart was born on July 22, 1892 in the village of Stannern (present-day Stonařov, southern Czech Republic) near the town of Iglau (Jihlava). This was a German speaking community within a Czech dominated area in Moravia, at the time part of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The family moved to Vienna in 1907.
Seyß-Inquart began to study law at the university of Vienna, and earned his degree during the First War in 1917 while recovering from being wounded. As a soldier in the Austro-Hungarian army he saw action in Russia, Romania, and Italy. He received several bravery decorations and at the end of the war held the rank of Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).
After the war, Seyß-Inquart developed close ties with several right wing and fascist organisations, among them the Vaterländische Front (Fatherland Front). He became a successful lawyer and had his own practice since 1921. In 1933, Seyß-Inquart went into Austrian politics and joined the cabinet of chancellor Engelbert Dollfuß.
Through growing influence and support by non other than A.H. himself, Seyß-Inquart eventually became Austrian Minister of the Interior in February of 1938. With the looming annexation of Austria by Germany in March of the same year, Austrian chancellor Schuschnigg stepped down. Seyß-Inquart was chosen as his successor due to immense pressure applied on the Austrian government by the NSDAP.
He served in this position for less than two days, until the Anschluss was completed. Seyß-Inquart signed the documents that legalised the annexation of Austria by Germany. After his office had ceased to exist, he was named Reichsstatthalter (Reich Governor) of the Ostmark, the newly created province that Austria had become as part of Greater Germany.
Being a fanatical anti-Semite, Seyß-Inquart almost immediately ordered the confiscation of Jewish property and had the Austrian Jews sent to concentration camps. He received the honorary SS rank of Gruppenführer in May of 1939, and would go on to become an SS-Obergruppenführer in 1941.
After the attack on Poland at the beginning of the Second War, Seyß-Inquart was named deputy to Hans Frank, the General Governor of occupied Poland. He supported Frank in the deportation of Polish Jews. Seyß-Inquart was also aware of the systematic murder of Polish intellectuals by the German secret service “Abwehr”.
In May of 1940, A.H. named Seyß-Inquart Reich Commissioner of the Netherlands. His policies concerning the Dutch Jews were no different than his policies had been concerning the Jews in Austria and Poland, in that they were ousted from governmental, and leading press and industry positions, their property seized, before being sent to concentration camps. Of the 140,000 Jews that were registered in the Netherlands in 1941, only 30,000 survived the war.
During his reign of terror, Seyß-Inquart also authorized the execution of at least 800 people, ranging from political prisoners to resistance fighters. At the end of the war, he was arrested by Allied forces and became one of the 24 defendants during the Nuremberg trials against the major war criminals. Seyß-Inquart was found guilty in three out of four charges and executed by hanging on October 16, 1946.
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