Germany, Wehrmacht. A Rare Reich Military Court Visor Cap, General Equivalent, by EREL

(Wehrmacht Schirmmütze für einen General der Reichskriegsgericht). An exceptionally rare and well-preserved Reichskriegsgericht (Reich Military Court) visor cap for a branch-equivalent General, constructed of field-grey wool. The cap features reinforced side walls which are fuller lined on the exterior with a dark green wool cap band. Both the top and bottom edges of the band are trimmed with Bordeaux-red piping, while a length of gold bullion wire piping surrounds the outer edge of the crown. Pinned onto the peak is a gilded brass Wehrmacht eagle clutching a wreathed mobile swastika, measuring 65 mm (w) x 25 mm (h) and retaining both original attachment prongs. Directly below the eagle, the centre of the cap band has an additional insignia in the form of a padded dark green wool backer bearing a gold bullion wire oak leaf wreath surrounding an aluminum tri-colour cockade, measuring 65 mm (w) x 45 mm (h) overall. The lower edge of the cap band is flanked by gilded and pebbled buttons which accommodate a chinstrap constructed of multiple rows of twisted and rolled gold bullion wire, adjusted at each end with a sliding knot of identical construction. A protruding vulcanfibre visor completes the exterior features, and is finished in black on the obverse and in light brown on the reverse. A multi-piece beige rayon liner fully encompasses the interior, while a wide brown leather sweatband surrounds the walls, and is perforated with ventilation holes through the forehead. The crown retains an intact transparent plastic moisture guard, covering the “EREL” maker’s mark of the former firm of Robert Lubstein, Berlin, situated above a judicial insignia. An additional silvered “EREL” mark is visible on the left side of the sweatband. Notably, the sweatband folds down to reveal a ventilation shaft extending from the forehead through to the exterior cockade for maximum comfort. The cap measures approximately 24.5 cm (w) x 27.5 cm (l) x 16.5 cm (h). Minor issues consistent with age and wear are evident, and include some loss of finish and surface oxidation to the eagle insignia, sporadic fatigue of the wool base, and some soiling to both the interior liner and sweatband. This rare cap to a high-ranking Military Court official remains in an extremely fine condition.