Superb original Double EREL Artillery Officer Visor Cap manufactured by Robert Lubstein of Berlin for a Wehrmacht Heer artillery officer.
This high-quality private-purchase Schirmmütze retains its fine field-grey wool crown, deep bottle-green centre band, vivid red artillery Waffenfarbe piping, silver officer chin cords, aluminium Heer eagle and impressive EREL Frischluft ventilated wreath and cockade.
€ 1.250
1 in stock
This Original Double EREL Artillery Officer Visor Cap is an excellent example of privately purchased German Army officer headgear from the Second World War.
Robert Lubstein of Berlin produced some of the most respected German military visor caps of the period under the famous EREL trademark.
This example is especially desirable because it carries EREL identification in two independent locations.
Inside the crown, the surviving celluloid diamond displays:
EREL
Sonderklasse
Standard
In addition, the leather sweatband carries the separate EREL Stirnschutz marking.
Consequently, collectors correctly describe this cap as a:
International Military Antiques describes the same double-marked arrangement on documented Heer artillery officer caps, noting that a crown trademark combined with the Stirnschutz sweatband marking is considered a Double EREL configuration.
Double EREL Heer Artillery Officer Cap comparison – IMA
OUTBOUND LINK 1
Robert Lubstein was one of the better-quality manufacturers of German military and political headgear.
The firm’s EREL trademark became associated particularly with high-grade private-purchase visor caps.
Several quality grades and trademark arrangements occur. This example carries the Sonderklasse Standard designation rather than the Sonderklasse Extra marking seen on some premium examples.
That distinction should be preserved accurately in the catalogue.
The presence of both the manufacturer’s crown trademark and Stirnschutz sweatband marking is especially useful because it demonstrates that the EREL-branded sweatband belongs naturally with an EREL-manufactured cap.
A remarkably close Ratisbon’s comparison also carries:
EREL Sonderklasse Standard
together with:
EREL Stirnschutz
and was catalogued as a period Heer artillery officer visor.
The brilliant red piping immediately identifies the branch.
Three lines of Hochrot, or deep-red Waffenfarbe, appear around the cap: one around the crown and two flanking the dark centre band.
Within the Heer Waffenfarbe system, bright red identified Artillerie, including artillery-related formations. Specialist reference material confirms red piping as the standard artillery branch colour.
Consequently, the cap can confidently be described as an:
rather than simply a generic Wehrmacht officer visor.
The crown consists of fine field-grey wool with a closely napped finish.
Its colour remains remarkably strong.
Moreover, the cap retains an attractive classic officer profile without serious collapse or distortion.
The material displays minor age and service wear. Some moth tracking is visible on the crown and around portions of the piping.
Importantly, this is not extensive destructive moth damage.
Instead, the photographs show relatively limited surface tracking and localised disturbance which should be recorded honestly in the condition report.
No attempt should be made to disguise or repair these areas.
The lower body carries the characteristic dark bottle-green officer cap band.
Its deep colour contrasts sharply with both the grey crown and bright red artillery piping.
The surface remains structurally sound and presents well.
Minor age-related nap disturbance is visible under close examination. Nevertheless, the centre band remains strong and attractive.
A double silver-coloured officer cord runs across the front immediately above the visor.
Decorative knots terminate beside silver-coloured pebbled buttons.
The use of silver cords is consistent with commissioned Heer officer headgear. German Army officer caps used silver or aluminium cords, whereas enlisted and standard NCO examples normally employed a leather chinstrap.
This feature therefore supports the cap’s identification as officer headgear.
The front crown carries the silver-coloured Wehrmacht Heer national eagle.
Its wings remain sharply defined, while the central wreath and emblem retain good detail.
The silver finish has acquired an attractive period patina.
The badge sits correctly over the central crown seam and remains visually compatible with the other fittings.
It should not be polished.
Original surface oxidation and patina form part of the cap’s historical appearance.
One of the most attractive features appears on the centre band.
The aluminium oak-leaf wreath surrounds a ventilated national cockade with an open centre and red textile insert.
This is associated with the well-known EREL Frischluft, or fresh-air, arrangement.
Ratisbon’s has documented an EREL Sonderklasse Standard artillery officer visor using precisely this type of ventilated cockade and describes it as an EREL “Frischluft” cap.
Ratisbon’s EREL Frischluft Artillery Officer Visor Cap
OUTBOUND LINK 2
The combination of Double EREL markings and Frischluft cockade makes this example more interesting than a standard anonymous artillery officer visor.
The visor retains its glossy black upper surface.
Fine scratches and normal handling lines can be seen when viewed closely.
However, the visor remains structurally sound and retains an excellent profile.
The underside has the characteristic brown-toned finish found on many quality private-purchase examples.
This type of vulcanised-fibre visor is also documented on comparable EREL caps.
Inside, the cap retains an attractive golden or champagne-coloured rayon lining.
Natural creasing and age-related marks remain visible.
The liner continues beneath the leather sweatband using the carefully folded construction expected from quality private-purchase headgear.
The interior has not been cosmetically cleaned.
That is beneficial from an authentication perspective because the relationship between the sweatband, lining and crown remains observable.
The crown contains the first of the cap’s two important maker markings.
Beneath the original celluloid sweat shield appears the silver trademark:
This identifies the cap as a product associated with Robert Lubstein’s EREL manufacturing system.
The marking survives particularly well.
Furthermore, its relationship with the stitching and ageing of the surrounding sweat diamond appears coherent.
A Ratisbon’s artillery officer cap carrying the same EREL Sonderklasse Standard marking and Frischluft insignia sold through its March 2024 auction.
The second manufacturer mark appears on the leather sweatband.
Although age has reduced some of the silver blocking, the EREL Stirnschutz marking remains visible.
The Stirnschutz designation relates to EREL’s patented forehead/sweatband construction.
Comparable original Double EREL caps display wording including EREL Patent/Stirnschutz and associated German patent references.
The presence of this second mark is precisely why the cap deserves the Double EREL designation.
Original Heer Artillery Officer Double EREL Visor Cap
not simply:
EREL Artillery Cap
The double-marked construction deserves prominence in both the product title and description because knowledgeable headgear collectors specifically search for Double EREL examples.
The brown leather sweatband remains substantially complete.
Ventilation perforations run across the forward section.
Natural perspiration staining, surface wear, age spotting and colour variation are visible.
These features are compatible with genuine use.
The surviving Stirnschutz marking increases the importance of keeping the leather completely untouched.
Do not oil, recolour or apply leather conditioner to the sweatband.
Such treatment can permanently darken original leather and weaken or destroy surviving manufacturer markings.
This Double EREL Artillery Officer Visor Cap remains in good original condition.
The field-grey crown retains its attractive colour and strong shape.
Likewise, the dark green band remains sound.
The artillery-red piping is striking and substantially complete.
There is, however, some moth tracking.
The photographs show minor surface disturbance to the crown and several localised areas of wear around the red piping. Small loose fibres can also be seen.
These areas should be described rather than hidden.
The silver officer cords remain complete.
Both principal cap insignia also present extremely well.
Furthermore, the interior retains its original lining, leather sweatband, celluloid sweatshield and both important EREL markings.
Overall condition can therefore be described as:
The photographs show an unusually coherent collection of period features.
Particularly encouraging characteristics include the fine field-grey wool, artillery-red Waffenfarbe, dark bottle-green band, silver officer cords, EREL Frischluft-style cockade, quality rayon interior and ventilated leather sweatband.
Most importantly, the two independent manufacturer markings correspond exactly with established Double EREL construction.
Ratisbon’s has documented an almost directly comparable artillery officer cap with the same EREL Sonderklasse Standard, EREL Stirnschutz, red piping and Frischluft cockade. Their example was described as 100% period time.
Regimentals has also documented a Double EREL artillery officer visor with very similar construction and even a comparable small area of moth tracking.
Regimentals Double EREL Artillery Officer Cap comparison
OUTBOUND LINK 3
Based on the photographs supplied, I would catalogue this example as a strong original period Double EREL Heer Artillery Officer visor cap.
The Schirmmütze formed part of the German Army officer’s service and dress uniform.
Branch identity could be established immediately through Waffenfarbe piping.
Artillery personnel wore deep red.
Meanwhile, commissioned officers normally wore silver-coloured chin cords and silver-coloured insignia rather than the black leather chinstraps associated with enlisted ranks.
Therefore, the combination visible here is internally consistent with an artillery officer’s cap.
For researchers attempting to identify the original wearer of named or provenance-linked Heer material, the German Federal Archives maintains personnel documentation relating to former Wehrmacht members.
Bundesarchiv – Wehrmacht military personnel research
OUTBOUND LINK 4 – AUTHORITATIVE ARCHIVAL SOURCE
This is not merely another red-piped Heer visor.
Its desirability rests on the combination of:
Double EREL manufacturer markings; EREL Sonderklasse Standard quality designation; EREL Stirnschutz sweatband; Frischluft ventilated cockade; artillery-red Waffenfarbe; complete officer cords; good preserved profile; original interior; and attractive age patina.
The small amount of moth tracking affects condition but does not outweigh these collector features.
A remarkably similar EREL Sonderklasse Standard artillery officer cap with Frischluft cockade and Stirnschutz marking sold at Ratisbon’s for €2,090 in March 2024. That was an auction result rather than specialist-retail pricing.
Current specialist references continue to treat Double EREL examples as especially desirable, and Regimentals describes the same combination of crown and sweatband markings as a notable quality feature.
Within the catalogue text, insert the phrase “original Third Reich uniforms and German officer headgear” and link it to the Nordmenn Uniforms collection:
Original Third Reich Uniforms – Nordmenn
A second relevant internal link can point readers toward another quality Heer officer cap:
Original Heer Generalmajor Parade Visor Cap – Nordmenn
For related Heer officer uniform accessories, use:
Original Heer General Feldbinde – Nordmenn
These should be placed inside the product description, not merely at the bottom, so Yoast recognises genuine internal links.
Product tags: Double EREL, EREL visor cap, artillery officer visor cap, Heer officer cap, Wehrmacht Schirmmütze, Robert Lubstein Berlin, EREL Sonderklasse Standard, EREL Stirnschutz, Frischluft cockade, artillery Waffenfarbe, German officer headgear, WWII German visor cap.
Object: Heer officer’s visor cap
German designation: Schirmmütze für Offiziere
Branch: Artillerie
Waffenfarbe: Hochrot / deep red
Maker: Robert Lubstein, Berlin – EREL
Quality: EREL Sonderklasse Standard
Special feature: Double EREL marked
First mark: EREL Sonderklasse Standard beneath sweat diamond
Second mark: EREL Stirnschutz on leather sweatband
Cockade: EREL-style Frischluft ventilated system
Cords: Silver officer type
Period: Third Reich / WWII
Condition: Good, with some minor moth tracking and honest age wear
