A Wehrmacht Army 5Th Cavalry Regiment Traditions Visor Skull

In die stamped silvered tombac; crossbones with polished highlights; one prong missing; measuring 29 mm x 27 mm; in very fine condition.

Footnote: This skull is similar in appearance to early SS skull except crossbones are polished; however, evidence exists that some SS members wore this type of skull, including Heinrich Himmler. Traditionally, this type of skull insignia was originally worn by the Prussian Leib-Husaren-Regimenter 1 and 2. After the WW1, the Totenkopf Hussar's tradition was carried on by the members of the Reichswehr's Reiter-Regiment 5, formed in 1921; later it became the Wehrmacht's Kavallerie-Regiment 5 in June 1936. In August of 1939, the regiment was transformed into three separate Reconnaissance Battalions and the tradition was discontinued. In 1943 however “the Kavallerie-Regiment 5” was reformed/refitted, and the tradition of wearing this insignia was reintroduced once again.