SMGM-4119 Early style SA mountain cap by Theodor Dittrich

This cap remains in very fine condition with only some small signs of moth damage. The pressed paper bill is fractured in 3 places which is unfortunately very common with these types of hats since they folded them. This style pre dates the version with the colored top. The eagle is the zinc type which has three prongs that puncture the inner lining. The two buttons vary slightly, so one of them was replaced at some point. The leather sweat band is still in great shape and is soft and pliable. It shows a period repair at the back. The RZM tag is nicely secured and shows some mothing. The cap size is marked 54. The pink diamond is machine sewn and the edelweiss is in great shape. A real nice pick up of a scarce hat.

The SA (Sturmabteilung, storm detachment) was established in 1921 as a paramilitary protection squad of the NSDAP. The members of the SA were tasked with protecting party leaders at political rallies and meetings from the paramilitary forces of the opposing political factions. The SA was first utilized on November 4, 1921 at a meeting held in Munich’s “Hofbräuhaus” beer hall. The organization was banned after the failed putsch in 1923 and was reactivated in February 1925.

The SA Mountain Cap was used by mountain units and during skiing activities. It is in the style of the mountain caps used by other organizations, the same style that eventually led to the development of the M43 visored cap used by the German Army.

The SA Mountain Cap was probably introduced in 1933 and initially only used in the Alpine regions of southern Bavaria and Austria. The flaps were closed in the front by either one or two buttons.
In general, a machine-woven eagle emblem was worn at the front of the cap, but on occasion metal emblems have been observed as well.

In 1938, the colored top part, similar to the SA Kepi, was added. Prior to that, it is thought that colored piping was used instead, since this has been observed in period photographs. However, no official regulation has been found that mentions this. During the war years, the cap could be piped in either gold or silver, although gold was forbidden after May of 1941.

Since the cap was mainly worn by members of the Hochland or Austrian areas, one of the two Edelweiss insignia is often encountered on the left side.

Region colors are as follows:

Pink-red: Ostmark and Südmark
Crimson: Wachstandarte
Dark wine-red: Ostland and Westfalen
Red-brown: Österreich and Donau
Dark brown: Westmark and Niedersachsen
Orange-yellow: Mitte and Südwest
Yellow: Schlesien and Franken
Apple-green: Pommern and Thüringen
Emerald-green: Sachsen and Nordmark
Steel-green: Nordsee and Kurpfalz
Light blue: Hochland and Bayerische Ostmark
Blue-grey: Sudetenland and Weichsel
Cornflower blue: Warthe and Oberrhein
Navy blue: Hansa and Hessen
Black: Niederrhein and Berlin-Brandenburg
Grey: Generalgouvernment