Belgium, VNV. A Rare Flemish Guard Visor Cap, Section II

A rare and well-preserved Vlaamse Wacht (Flemish Guard) visor cap, constructed of black wool with a gentle whipcord weave. The cap features reinforced side walls which are fully lined on the exterior with a black wool cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the cap band are trimmed with lemon-yellow piping, while an additional length of identical piping trims the outer edge of the crown. The former’s internal wire reinforcement has been removed to give the cap a classic “Sattelform” appearance traditionally favoured by German and Axis personnel. Pinned onto the peak is a silvered bronze cockade measuring 20 mm in diameter, featuring a central hollow void with the black underlay of the cap providing the centrepiece. Directly below the peak, the centre of the cap bands if pinned with silvered bronze numerals “II”, indicating distribution Afdeling II (Section II). The numerals are situated within a silvered zink alloy oak leaf wreath measuring 68 mm (w) x 45 mm (h). Dual blackened magnetic metal studs flank the lower edge of the cap band and accommodate an original black leatherette chinstrap, itself adjusted with blackened magnetic metal buckles. Completing the exterior features is a protruding blackened vulcanfibre visor. The interior is fully encompassed by a multi-piece light brown rayon liner, which bears the remnants of a rhomboid moisture guard which has been lost to time. A brown leather sweatband surrounds the interior of the cap band. Unmarked, it measures approximately 23 cm (w) x 35 cm (l) x 15.5 cm (h). Minor material fatigue and moderate distortion of the structure are evident, and reflect age and period use. This scarce example of a cap to a noted Belgian collaborationist unit remains in a very fine condition.

Footnote: The Flemish Guard was founded in 1941 by Germain Lefever and Karel De Feyter at the behest of the German occupation authorities, acting through the aegis of the Verbond van Vlaamsche Oudstrijders (Union of Flemish Veterans/VOS) and ruling Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond (Flemish National League/VNV). It was intended to serve as the national police force of a future independent Flanders. However, Allied advances following D-Day resulted in the Guard being brought under direct German control, and by the September 1944 liberation of Belgium, its members had been shifted to German and incorporated into the 27th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Langemarck.