Exceptional original NSDAP Ortsgruppe Political Leader Visor Cap dating from approximately 1939–45. This M39-pattern cap retains its golden-brown crown, brown velvet centre band, distinctive light-blue Ortsgruppenleitung piping, gilt Political Leader eagle and oak-leaf wreath, enamelled cockade, complete gold-coloured cap cord and dark-brown visor.
€ 2.500
1 in stock
This exceptional NSDAP Ortsgruppe Political Leader Visor Cap is an original M39-pattern Schirmmütze für Politische Leiter manufactured for personnel serving at Ortsgruppenleitung, the local administrative level of the NSDAP Political Leadership Corps.
The cap combines a finely tailored golden-brown crown with a rich brown velvet centre band and the distinctive light-blue piping prescribed for Ortsgruppe personnel. Gilt Political Leader insignia, an enamelled national cockade, complete gold-coloured cap cords and a brown visor complete the striking configuration.
Importantly, the interior retains its original RZM Tuchmütze label, providing an additional period manufacturing and control feature.
Period editions of the Organisationsbuch der NSDAP confirm the final Political Leader colour system: light blue for Ortsgruppe, white for Kreis, red for Gau and bright yellow for Reich.
Three lines of light-blue piping immediately identify the organisational level.
One follows the outer edge of the crown, while further blue piping borders the brown centre band. This arrangement agrees directly with the published Political Leader uniform regulations.
The distinction is important. Light-blue piping identifies Ortsgruppenleitung service; it does not prove that the original wearer personally held the appointment of Ortsgruppenleiter. Numerous Political Leaders served within an Ortsgruppe administration.
Therefore, the most accurate catalogue title is NSDAP Ortsgruppe Political Leader Visor Cap, rather than simply “Ortsgruppenleiter cap.”
A surviving 1943 Organisationsbuch der NSDAP plate provides an especially useful period comparison for these piping colours.
1943 Organisationsbuch der NSDAP – Political Leader Uniform Reference
The cap corresponds to the final M39 Political Leader uniform system, introduced in 1939.
Helmut Weitze documents an original circa-1939 Ortsgruppenleitung visor cap with the same principal characteristics: light gabardine construction, gilt national eagle, oak-leaf wreath with enamelled cockade, gold cap cord and light-blue piping. The interior of that reference example also retains an RZM Tuchmütze label.
A second current Weitze example in better condition is likewise described with light-blue piping and an RZM label and is offered at €1,600.
Helmut Weitze – NSDAP Ortsgruppenleitung Political Leader Visor Cap
Fine golden-brown cloth forms the crown.
Its high profile remains particularly attractive, while the cloth retains good colour and relatively little external deterioration. A vertical front seam passes centrally behind the national eagle, consistent with period tailoring.
The crown is bordered by light-blue piping rather than military Waffenfarbe. In this case, the colour denotes the wearer’s Party administrative echelon.
A broad brown velvet band surrounds the cap.
The material has retained an attractive deep colour and provides a strong contrast against the golden-brown crown. Blue piping borders the band above and below, completing the Ortsgruppenleitung colour arrangement.
Current specialist examples show the same velvet-band construction on accepted original Political Leader caps.
Mounted prominently above the centre band is the gilt national eagle used with the later Political Leader cap.
The insignia retains strong relief and attractive surviving gold-coloured finish. Its proportions and location agree closely with original M39 Political Leader headgear.
The complete combination of eagle, wreath and cockade is particularly desirable because loose or replacement insignia frequently appears on surviving caps.
For an internal construction comparison, see Nordmenn’s original Political Leader cap insignia set:
Original NSDAP Political Leader RZM Cap Insignia Set – Nordmenn Militaria
The centre band carries the elaborate later-pattern gilt oak-leaf wreath.
Individual leaves remain sharply defined. At its centre sits the multi-part national cockade with coloured enamel and the central political emblem.
The insignia displays particularly well against the brown velvet backing.
Weitze’s accepted circa-1939 Ortsgruppe cap also combines a gilt eagle with an oak-leaf wreath and enamelled cockade.
A double gold-coloured cord runs across the front immediately above the visor.
The decorative sliders and side attachments remain present. Moreover, the colour and ageing correspond convincingly with the gilt insignia.
Complete original cord sets improve both collector appeal and display quality because individual cord components are frequently missing from surviving examples.
The dark-brown visor retains a strong profile and attractive period surface.
Light age and handling marks remain visible without overwhelming the presentation. The brown finish is correct for Political Leader headgear and complements both the centre band and golden-brown crown.
The visor should remain untouched. Modern polishing or refinishing would reduce its historical integrity.
The surviving RZM label is an important feature.
It is identified as a Tuchmütze label and retains its numbered manufacturer/control fields. On the photographs supplied, the manufacturer field appears to carry Hersteller 20, with the larger numbered field appearing as 203187.
I recommend cataloguing exactly what is visible rather than assigning manufacturer code 20 to a named company unless that attribution can be confirmed independently from a reliable RZM manufacturer list.
Ratisbon’s has documented numerous original Ortsgruppe Political Leader caps with RZM Tuchmütze labels surviving beneath the sweatband.
The interior retains its golden-tan rayon lining and leather sweatband.
Wear is greater internally than externally, which is entirely normal. The sweatband shows drying, cracking and areas of damage, while age staining remains visible within the lining.
These faults should be clearly described but not restored.
Original stitching, leather deterioration and concealed construction all provide useful authentication evidence.
Political Leaders formed the administrative apparatus of the NSDAP.
The territorial organisation operated through progressively larger levels including Ortsgruppe, Kreis, Gau and Reich. Uniform piping allowed the wearer’s administrative level to be recognised visually.
For the final system, period uniform references record:
The Ortsgruppe represented the local Party level and oversaw subordinate local structures.
Based on the high-resolution photographs, this NSDAP Ortsgruppe Political Leader Visor Cap presents strongly as an original period example.
The strongest positive characteristics are the correct golden-brown Political Leader cloth, brown velvet band, three lines of light-blue Ortsgruppe piping, gilt M39 insignia, enamelled cockade, gold cap cords, brown visor and surviving RZM Tuchmütze label.
Furthermore, ageing appears consistent across cloth, velvet, metal insignia, leather and lining.
Ratisbon’s provides another useful comparison: an excellent M39 Ortsgruppe Political Leader cap with blue piping, gilt eagle and wreath, gold cord and RZM label realised €1,370 in June 2024.
Organisation: NSDAP
Item: Political Leader visor cap
German designation: Schirmmütze für Politische Leiter
Administrative level: Ortsgruppenleitung
Pattern: M39
Date: circa 1939–45
Crown: golden-brown Political Leader cloth
Centre band: brown velvet
Piping: light blue – Ortsgruppe
Eagle: gilt Political Leader pattern
Wreath: gilt oak-leaf pattern
Cockade: enamelled multi-part national cockade
Cap cord: gold-coloured Political Leader pattern
Visor: dark brown
Interior: golden-tan rayon with leather sweatband
RZM label: Tuchmütze
Visible manufacturer field: apparently 20
Visible numbered field: apparently 203187
Condition: excellent exterior presentation with age-related interior deterioration
Assessment: Highly convincing original pre-1945 cap
Overall exterior condition is very good to excellent.
The crown retains an impressive shape. Meanwhile, the blue piping remains clear and strongly coloured.
The velvet band presents particularly well. Likewise, the gilt insignia retains attractive finish and the cap cords remain complete.
Interior condition is weaker due to age. The leather sweatband has cracking and damage, while the lining displays normal staining and handling marks.
Nothing should be cleaned, recoloured or replaced.
Original M39 Political Leader caps are significantly more desirable when they remain complete and retain an RZM label.
This example additionally benefits from its strong exterior condition and unmistakable light-blue Ortsgruppenleitung piping.
Current specialist comparisons range widely according to condition. Weitze presently lists a moth-damaged example at €900 and a much better example at €1,600. Ratisbon’s recorded €1,370 for an excellent RZM-labelled M39 Ortsgruppe cap in 2024, while auction values for lesser examples have been lower.
For a specialist retail listing, the strong external presentation and surviving RZM label justify a premium over ordinary auction results.
Explore related listings: Military Visor & Peaked Caps; NSDAP Cap Insignia Set | Political Leader RZM M1/47; NSDAP Gauleitung visor cap; NSDAP White Summer Visor Cap | Ortsgruppenleitung RZM.
Helmut Weitze – Original Ortsgruppenleitung Political Leader Visor Cap
Weitze confirms the circa-1939 pattern, light-blue piping, gilt insignia, gold cord and RZM-labelled construction.
1943 Organisationsbuch der NSDAP – Political Leader Uniform Plate
This primary-period reference confirms the organisational piping system.
Ratisbon’s – M39 Ortsgruppe Political Leader Visor Cap Reference
Ratisbon’s provides both an original construction comparison and an auction-market benchmark.
