Germany, RAD. A Service Cap for Leaders

(Reichsarbeitsdienst Arbeitsdienstmütze für Führer). A well-preserved Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service/RAD) “Robin Hood” service cap for Leaders, constructed of olive-drab wool cloth with a subtle whipcord weave. The cap is fully surrounded by side walls which are trimmed along the top edge with silver aluminum wire piping. A brown wool insert is set between the crown and walls, and is fixed in position with stitching. The crown is flanked on each side by dual ventilation holes which are reinforced with brown painted metal grommets. Stitched onto the centre of the insert just below the peak is an insignia consisting of an olive-drab wool backer bearing an RAD emblem executed in silver aluminum wire and multi-coloured machine embroidery,. Completing the exterior features is a protruding visor which consists of a rigid card stock core, fully lined in identical wool cloth, bisected on the obverse by a silver aluminum wire tresse. The interior is fully encompassed by an olive-drab rayon liner, while a brown leather sweatband surrounds the side walls. An illegible handwritten inscription is visible on the crown, and is presumably an owner’s name, while illegible districted stamps are visible on both the liner and reverse of the sweatband. The cap measures approximately 19 cm (w) x 28 cm (l) x 15 cm (h). Minor and sporadic material fatigue is visible to the base cloth, and the overall structure demonstrates some bending consistent with storage conditions, but this scarce Leader-grade cap remains in a near extremely fine condition.