This exceptional NSDAP White Summer Visor Cap is a scarce M39-pattern Political Leader Schirmmütze configured for the Ortsgruppenleitung, or local administrative level of the NSDAP.
€ 3.995
1 in stock
This exceptional NSDAP White Summer Visor Cap is a scarce M39-pattern Political Leader Schirmmütze configured for the Ortsgruppenleitung, or local administrative level of the NSDAP.
Its most important feature is the genuine removable white summer crown cover.
Light-blue piping borders the upper and lower edges of the brown centre band, identifying the organisational level as Ortsgruppenleitung. Gilt Political Leader insignia, an elaborate oak-leaf wreath, enamelled cockade, gold-coloured cords and a brown visor complete the distinctive appearance.
Internally, the cap retains an original RZM “DIENSTMÜTZE” label marked Herst. 72.
Taken together, the removable white crown, correct Ortsgruppe piping, complete insignia and surviving RZM control label make this a considerably scarcer cap than the ordinary brown Political Leader version.
The detachable white top deserves particular emphasis in the catalogue.
Rather than being permanently incorporated into the cap body, the finely woven cream-white cover can be removed from the supporting structure.
This allowed the cap to present the distinctive white summer appearance during appropriate seasonal wear.
The official Political Leader uniform system introduced a white summer visor version in 1939. Weitze notes that white summer caps were approved in June 1939 and intended for seasonal wear, while period uniform references illustrate the white Political Leader configuration.
Importantly, the NSDAP White Summer Visor Cap shown here has no light-blue piping running around the outside of the removable white crown.
Instead, blue piping remains associated with the brown lower body.
That detail is significant because published descriptions of the final M39 summer cap specify the coloured organisational piping around the centre-band area rather than around the white summer crown.
Consequently, I would describe this as a particularly convincing M39 summer configuration, rather than a later conversion from an ordinary cap.
Light blue was the prescribed administrative colour for Ortsgruppenleitung.
The NSDAP Political Leader system used piping to identify the organisation level rather than the individual wearer’s precise rank.
Period references give the later M39 colour system as:
The 1943 Organisationsbuch der NSDAP illustrates the same four-level system.
Therefore, this cap should not automatically be called an “Ortsgruppenleiter’s cap.”
A more accurate description is:
NSDAP Political Leader visor cap for personnel serving at Ortsgruppenleitung level.
Numerous Political Leader ranks and appointments existed within the Ortsgruppe structure.
A broad brown velvet or fine-napped centre band forms the lower body.
Its rich warm colour remains particularly attractive.
Light-blue piping follows both its upper and lower edges.
The combination of brown band and blue piping is immediately recognisable as the later Ortsgruppenleitung specification.
Weitze currently documents an original circa-1939 Ortsgruppenleitung Political Leader visor using light gabardine, brown-band construction, gilt insignia, gold cords and light-blue piping.
That conventional brown version is currently listed at €900 because of significant condition issues, while a better surviving example has recently been offered at €1,600.
The detachable white summer cover places your example in a substantially scarcer category.
Mounted prominently to the white crown is the gilt NSDAP Political Leader eagle.
The eagle displays horizontally extended wings and a central body terminating in the wreathed swastika.
Much of its original gold-coloured finish remains.
Age has softened the brilliance without destroying the underlying detail.
Its warm finish corresponds naturally with the gold-coloured cords and elaborate front wreath.
Political Leader regulations called for gilt insignia on the M39 cap. Period illustrations likewise show the gold Party eagle above the centre band.
I would leave the eagle exactly as found.
No polishing should be undertaken.
The centre-band insignia is especially impressive.
A broad gilt oak-leaf wreath surrounds the enamelled national cockade.
Individual leaves display finely textured surfaces intended to reproduce the appearance of embroidery.
At the centre sits the red, white and black Political Leader cockade with a small swastika.
This enlarged oak-leaf arrangement belongs to the later Political Leader cap specification.
Weitze describes comparable originals with a gilt eagle above an oak-leaf wreath and enamelled swastika cockade.
Natural age toning remains visible between the raised details.
The finish should remain untouched.
Braided gold-coloured cords cross the front immediately above the brown visor.
Their multiple strands and decorative knots remain substantially complete.
Matching gold-coloured pebbled buttons secure them at either side.
Minor wear to the metallic surfaces corresponds with the general condition of the cap.
Period M39 Political Leader regulations used gold cords and matching buttons with the gilt insignia configuration.
Consequently, the NSDAP White Summer Visor Cap presents a particularly complete exterior.
A dark brown visor forms another characteristic Political Leader feature.
Its upper surface retains a deep glossy brown finish.
Minor scratches and handling traces remain visible.
Unlike military caps that commonly used black peaks, Political Leader regulations specified a dark brown visor.
The 1940 NSDAP organisation handbook describes Political Leader caps with dark-brown Vulkanfibre peaks and gold-coloured cords.
The visor therefore fits the remainder of the construction very well.
Beneath the sweatband survives an extremely important RZM control label.
It reads:
DIENSTMÜTZE
Herst.: 72
Reichszeugmeisterei der NSDAP
A further numbered control field remains beneath.
The presence of this label is a major positive feature.
The Reichszeugmeisterei controlled production and distribution of authorised Party uniforms and equipment. Surviving original Political Leader caps frequently retain comparable RZM labels beneath their sweatbands. Weitze and Ratisbon’s both document period examples with original RZM cap labels in precisely this location.
I would catalogue the marking as:
RZM cap manufacturer number: Herst. 72
I would not identify this automatically as Fritz Zimmermann.
Zimmermann is well known as M1/72 in the RZM metal-insignia system, but the number on this textile Dienstmützelabel belongs to a different RZM manufacturing/category system.
Therefore, writing “Fritz Zimmermann cap” simply from the number 72 would be unsafe.
The label itself is nevertheless highly desirable.
The cap’s interior displays convincing age.
A tan-brown leather sweatband remains substantially complete.
Natural darkening, small surface marks and handling wear appear throughout.
Behind the leather sits an aged gold/champagne-coloured textile lining.
The celluloid sweat shield also survives.
Different materials have aged at different rates.
That variation is useful when assessing high-value Political Leader headgear because artificially aged reproductions often show much more uniform deterioration.
The interior of this NSDAP White Summer Visor Cap therefore provides important supporting evidence alongside the exterior construction.
Ordinary Ortsgruppenleitung Political Leader caps appear periodically.
White summer examples occur much less frequently.
A genuine removable cover is even more desirable because it demonstrates the specialised seasonal construction rather than merely the use of white cloth.
MedalBook currently estimates an M39 white summer Political Leader cap at approximately US$3,300 and specifically describes the illustrated Ortsgruppenleitung example as very rare.
More importantly, Ratisbon’s sold a privately purchased Kreisleitung white summer Political Leader cap in March 2024 for €3,200 hammer / approximately €3,985 including premium.
That comparison is much more relevant to this cap than ordinary brown Ortsgruppe examples selling around €600–€1,600.
From the photographs supplied, several points strongly support period construction.
The detachable white cotton-type crown shows correct age and weave.
Blue piping corresponds with Ortsgruppenleitung.
Brown velvet, brown visor, gold cords and later Political Leader insignia form a coherent M39 specification.
Additionally, the RZM Dienstmütze label remains beneath the leather sweatband.
Age is distributed naturally across cloth, leather, gilt fittings, rayon and enamel.
No single feature proves authenticity independently.
Taken collectively, however, this is a strong candidate for an original period M39 NSDAP Political Leader summer visor cap.
For an absolute guarantee, I would still inspect the reverse attachments of the eagle and wreath together with the fastening arrangement of the removable crown.
The NSDAP White Summer Visor Cap remains in very good original condition.
White cloth retains an attractive cream-white appearance.
Minor age marks remain visible but do not dominate the presentation.
The brown centre band shows excellent colour.
Light-blue piping remains strong and unmistakable.
Gold cords survive complete.
The large oak-leaf wreath retains impressive gilt finish.
Likewise, the enamelled cockade displays very well.
Internally, the sweatband, lining, celluloid shield and RZM label remain substantially intact.
All components should remain untreated.
In particular, the removable white top should not be bleached, washed or aggressively dry-cleaned.
Explore related listings: Military Visor & Peaked Caps; Original NSDAP Gauleitung Visor Cap – White Summer RZM; Original NSDAP Ortsgruppe Political Leader Visor Cap | RZM; Nordmenn Uniforms and Headgear Collection.
the best current Ortsgruppenleitung construction reference: Helmut Weitze – NSDAP Ortsgruppenleitung Political Leader Visor Cap
a primary-period illustration of the Political Leader colour system: 1943 Organisationsbuch der NSDAP Political Leader Cap Plate
the rare white summer M39 specification and current value reference: MedalBook – NSDAP M39 Summer Visor Cap
For the strongest recent auction comparison: Ratisbon’s – White Summer Political Leader Visor Cap, €3,985 Result
