Waffen-SS Panzer crew headgear

by Willi Schumacher

Waffen-SS Panzer crew headgear

SS-Sturmmann Hans Joachin Katschinski, an assault gunner in the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" wears the one-button model of the M1943 field cap with two-piece insignia
SS-Sturmmann Hans Joachin Katschinski, an assault gunner in the 12. SS-Panzer-Division "Hitlerjugend" wears the one-button model of the M1943 field cap with two-piece insignia
SS-Schütze Assault Gunner wearing the standard Waffen-SS enlisted overseas cap
SS-Schütze Assault Gunner wearing the standard Waffen-SS enlisted overseas cap

After discarding the ungainly black panzer beret in January 1941, the black panzer overseas cap was issued to panzer crews as the replacement. This cap was compact, light-weight and easy to store. It was essentially the same overseas cap as worn by the rest of the Waffen-SS with exception of the color. Insignia was two-piece with national emblem being worn over the Totenkopf. The latter piece of insignia was sewn onto the front of the turn up. Officers wore aluminum wire piping around the top of the turn up. Most officers also wore the standard enlisted woven insignia, however, some chose to have aluminum woven insignia placed on their caps. In the beginning, many Waffen-SS panzer crews wore Army styled black panzer overseas caps which had a scalloped front on the turn up. Often the crews continued to wear the Army national emblem instead of replacing it with that of the SS. Officers piping was on top of the cap and along the scalloped portion of the turn up. Also, the pink soutache, an inverted "V", over the Totenkopf, as it had done to the roundel on the Army's caps. Soutaches were later regulated out but many crews continued to wear them.

Finally with the introduction of the M1943 field cap, many panzer crews elected to wear this popular styled cap although one major drawback was the bill, which frequently got in the way when trying to sight the guns. Once again the crews wore the standard gray-green wool cap but in black. Insignia varied with early crews wearing the Totenkopf on the front above the two-buttoned front and the national emblem on the left side. As one-buttoned models of the M1943 began to appear, there was sufficient room for both pieces of insignia on the front. Later there was the woven trapezoid insignia made of white thread. Once again most officers wore the enlisted insignia. Officers were authorized to wear the aluminum wire piping around the crown of the cap. Early M1943 field caps had small metal pebbled buttons on the front, which were replaced with black Bakelite or glass buttons later in the war.

Waffen-SS Enlisted M1943 Field Cap – one button model with two-piece Bevo insignia
Waffen-SS Enlisted M1943 Field Cap – one button model with two-piece Bevo insignia
Ritterkreuzträger Paul Guhl of the Adolf Hitler Division wearing a one-button model of the M1943 field cap piped in aluminum for officers. The one-button model often had two-piece insignia on the front
Ritterkreuzträger Paul Guhl of the Adolf Hitler Division wearing a one-button model of the M1943 field cap piped in aluminum for officers. The one-button model often had two-piece insignia on the front
An example of a two-button model Waffen-SS officer M1943 field cap with aluminum piping around the crown. The insignia for the two-button model was usually split between the front and left side. This insignia is aluminum flat wire officer-quality
An example of a two-button model Waffen-SS officer M1943 field cap with aluminum piping around the crown. The insignia for the two-button model was usually split between the front and left side. This insignia is aluminum flat wire officer-quality
Standard Waffen-SS enlisted overseas cap. This cap was based on the Luftwaffe overseas cap design. The insignia is machine-woven
Standard Waffen-SS enlisted overseas cap. This cap was based on the Luftwaffe overseas cap design. The insignia is machine-woven
Example of a Waffen-SS enlisted overseas cap with a red soutache for artillery. The soutache were ordered removed by SS-Hauptamt (SS-Main Department) in November 1940, as well as a return to white piping on all service caps. This cap is stenciled inside with a 1940 date
Example of a Waffen-SS enlisted overseas cap with a red soutache for artillery. The soutache were ordered removed by SS-Hauptamt (SS-Main Department) in November 1940, as well as a return to white piping on all service caps. This cap is stenciled inside with a 1940 date
Example of a Waffen-SS officer overseas cap. This cap has the aluminum wire piping denoting an officer cap but has the distinctive enlisted machine-woven insignia. This was a common practice during the war
Example of a Waffen-SS officer overseas cap. This cap has the aluminum wire piping denoting an officer cap but has the distinctive enlisted machine-woven insignia. This was a common practice during the war
Example of a Waffen-SS officer service cap. The standard was white piping around the crown and above and below the black felt cap band. For a period of 8 months in 1940, ending in November, members of the Waffen-SS were authorized to wear caps with various colored piping representing their branch, e.g. red for artillery, black for engineers, etc. The insignia is stamped aluminum and the silver bullion chin cords are attached on each side with silver pebbled buttons
Example of a Waffen-SS officer service cap. The standard was white piping around the crown and above and below the black felt cap band. For a period of 8 months in 1940, ending in November, members of the Waffen-SS were authorized to wear caps with various colored piping representing their branch, e.g. red for artillery, black for engineers, etc. The insignia is stamped aluminum and the silver bullion chin cords are attached on each side with silver pebbled buttons
SS-Untersturmführer Hargescheimer, panzer commander wearing the Waffen-SS Officer Service Cap with the silver bullion chin cords. Notice the wire inside the crown has been removed so the cap does not maintain its rigid form and that the wings on the national emblem have been bent back
SS-Untersturmführer Hargescheimer, panzer commander wearing the Waffen-SS Officer Service Cap with the silver bullion chin cords. Notice the wire inside the crown has been removed so the cap does not maintain its rigid form and that the wings on the national emblem have been bent back
This is an example of the Waffen-SS NCO/Other Ranks Service Cap with the black leather chin strap in the SS style with the break in the center and two adjustments – one on each side
This is an example of the Waffen-SS NCO/Other Ranks Service Cap with the black leather chin strap in the SS style with the break in the center and two adjustments – one on each side
This is an example of the Old Style Service Cap as worn by many Waffen-SS NCOs in the early days of the SS-VT and Waffen-SS. The visor is covered in gray-green wool just like the rest of the cap. There is no chin cord. White waffenfarben was the normal branch color although during the authorized period in 1940, other branch colors were worn. These, and the crusher styled caps, were very popular with the assault gun crews because of their softness and flexibility
This is an example of the Old Style Service Cap as worn by many Waffen-SS NCOs in the early days of the SS-VT and Waffen-SS. The visor is covered in gray-green wool just like the rest of the cap. There is no chin cord. White waffenfarben was the normal branch color although during the authorized period in 1940, other branch colors were worn. These, and the crusher styled caps, were very popular with the assault gun crews because of their softness and flexibility
These two Waffen-SS volunteers from the Westland Regiment demonstrate the SS black leather chin strap (left) and the Army black leather chin strap (right)
These two Waffen-SS volunteers from the Westland Regiment demonstrate the SS black leather chin strap (left) and the Army black leather chin strap (right)
SS-Unterscharführer Wurrer, a baker in the Wiking Division wearing the Old Style Service Cap
SS-Unterscharführer Wurrer, a baker in the Wiking Division wearing the Old Style Service Cap
This is an Waffen-SS artillery crusher cap used by artillery officers, both conventional and Sturmgeschütz. Notice the visor isn’t the stiff Vulcan type like the regular service cap – it being more soft and flexible. This cap was made and worn in 1940 when SS regulations permitted the wearing of different colored waffenfarben (branch) on the caps. Also notice that the crusher cap lacks the chin cords
This is an Waffen-SS artillery crusher cap used by artillery officers, both conventional and Sturmgeschütz. Notice the visor isn’t the stiff Vulcan type like the regular service cap – it being more soft and flexible. This cap was made and worn in 1940 when SS regulations permitted the wearing of different colored waffenfarben (branch) on the caps. Also notice that the crusher cap lacks the chin cords
Various styled headgear being worn by this group of Waffen-SS artillerymen. The officer on the left is wearing the Army M-38 styled overseas cap with aluminum piping around the crown and the scalloped front. The SS-Scharführer next to him is wearing a crusher cap while the other two men are wearing the early SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) side caps (overseas) with the Totenkopf buttons on the front and the national emblem on the side
Various styled headgear being worn by this group of Waffen-SS artillerymen. The officer on the left is wearing the Army M-38 styled overseas cap with aluminum piping around the crown and the scalloped front. The SS-Scharführer next to him is wearing a crusher cap while the other two men are wearing the early SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) side caps (overseas) with the Totenkopf buttons on the front and the national emblem on the side

All contents written by Christian Ankerstjerne unless stated otherwise