UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories SS & SA Uniform Forum SS Dachau Bergmutze

Something different from Dachau, an SS Bergmutze in Angora fur. Originally picked up by a doctor doing humanitarian work at Dachau, sold by his estate to Bob Hritz and then from Bob to me. Enjoy.

Rick

Now there's something not seen every day. What a unique piece of headgear.
Could you show a shot of the lining? Do the ear flaps actually come down? thanks ,G.

Darn! You should store this in an environmentally controlled vault so it doesn't grow all that fur!

"Furgmutze"
I can see that one looking very sexy on Ilsa, in her little white SS ski uniform...

Very cool..never seen anything quite like it..has it had all its shots yet? Just kidding...certainly something that is quite unique and would look great with a winter set!

The first images are older ones, these are a couple more current images of the hat in some filtered light. The head has since had a black stocking stretched over the original white surgical cloth covering (that covers the Styrofoam head) to add some contrast when displayed. The fur is actually a light cream color.

It has been a fun and interesting piece to own and show to others. Might be something that would merit some serious reseach.

The flaps do work, a metal hook attachment is used in-lieu of the late-war single style button at the front. The SS tag is a cloth type tag, I think the ID numbers and letters can be made out with a little work.

One from the top.

One from the side ...

Some images of the inside.

another looking to the front...

...and one looking to the rear.

I wonder if you could show the tag in its entirety.
Thanks,
Derek

Derek, here is an enlargement from an image I took earlier today. I'll take a better close-up of the tag in the morning when I have some better light outside.

Rick

The complete SS RZM tag. Sorry, only two hands, no camera tripod. All lines of information are filled in and complete, one is a signature (stamp?). The number is also entered in the lower right-hand corner on the bottom (N.S.D.A.P. ...) line which is just out of view.

I wonder if this item shows up in any SS RZM Preisliste. Derek, I didn't found it yet.

Hello,,,,,,,,, Could I ask,,,,you say that it was picked up by a Doctor administring humanitarian work, I take it this means after the wars end but its interesting to see that the RZM linen label is the white early 1930s type.Would this fur cap have still been present in the camp through this period and it also looks unissued ??.Also it appears that the numbers have been worn off but the cap is in exceptional condition,,,I must admit I have never seen one of these before and would not know if the RZM labels changed to black on this type of mutze??!!,,, Interesting,,,,,,,,,, regards Stephen

Rick,
Thank for posting the extra photograph. If the original isn't quite as bleached out as it appears in the picture can you make out the hersteller number portion of it?

Robert,
I think in all the price lists I have seen the cap is always referred to as a skimuetze. However, many years ago I did see a bergmutze tag in a cap, but for the life of me I can't remember if it was a white or black tag.
I suspect that this cap was a product of the large Angora rabbit farm in Dachau. Probably an amount of them were made and perhaps old labels stored in the WVHA offices were utilised.
Quite the curiousity.
Derek

Hi Stephen, everyone, while the hat is in excellent condition it also shows signs of wear and use. The wear to the tag and leather band are consistent with the way the hat would fit ones head. The damage looks worse (in the image) than it really is, with some serious first hand examination I think most of the information can be deciphered.

Derek, the information shared with me years ago concurs with your comment, this was a product of the Angora �project� for lack of better term. And not to mislead anyone, but the emphasize for this project may have been more to develop material for cold weather gear in general, not just hats. I'll also try again on the tag image.

My feeling is that the hat is an actual example that would have been used for the review and approval process. Something for the winter of 45 maybe? The tag could very well be a victim of �first one in last one out�.

A term I�ve come to know from folks that research TR tank production, first one in last one out (of the parts bin) refers to a phenomena repeated whenever production related supplies start to run short you start to see things from earlier versions showing up on later versions. Also took place at the end of the war, they used whatever was in the bottom of the barrel.

Could be the same with the tag, all they had at the time and it would suffice for the review process.

It is a curious and interesting piece, a potential one-off.

Rick

Thanks Rick,
The reason I was interested to find out the hersteller number was that if, for example, the number was assigned to a Hamburg manufacturer we would know that the tag was just a left over, (the call for mountain caps being minimal at best in Hamburg).
It is highly unlikely that the RZM, VA process would have used old tags for approval items as this was, despite the war years, still a very regulated process. I think you are closer with a limited production run.
The RZM tag should have good info for further speculation if legible.
Derek

Thank you Derek for looking through your information and sharing your insight on the RZM tags and system (thank you too Robert H.), greatly appreciated. Your probable right on the small run, its more than likely one of a few. Again, if you had a chance to examine the hat first hand you could easily say this looks like a full blown production item, 100% complete, ready for use.

Have other pieces from the �farm� ever surfaced?

Rick

Rick,
Is it possible to make out the Hersteller number with the naked eye? That tag has been trimmed slightly I think and shows what looks like a little more wear than it should get under that band. It certainly would appear to have been recycled.
Derek

About the best I can do, not easy to make out but it is there.

I don't want to hurt anybody but I have to say from my view I don't trust this cap. As I know what shows up in the RZM list as a Skimuetze is a cap like shown on p.433 from M.Beavers SS uniform book. Known in Gabardine black or in cloth earth grey. It would be interesting to see pictures in wear from this shown white Angora cap here. It cannot be a single existing piece when it has such a label inside. Also I wonder why the interesting part from the tag is not readable anymore. This are just my 5 cents input about it. Maybe "Rieger Pelze" in Munich got them for sale at this time but then w/o the tag.

I am with you Robert, I liked it more without the tag.

Oh that�s O.K. Robert, nothing we haven�t asked ourselves a million times before!

Given the nature of TR collecting those types of issues certainly need to be taken into account. I still continue to do things like search for examples of period or post-war clothing, always on the lookout for anything that might be similar.

To doubt is good, it keeps us asking, it keeps us thinking.

Rick

Hello, Rick, good to see you back here , never seen a cap like that before!
cheers
Martin

Hello, Rick, Good to see you back here
Stick around !
Cheers
Martin

Hey Martin how are you? Good to see your still out there, still beating the bushes here too. I guess you never really get this stuff out of your blood!

Curious hat, interesting conversation piece if nothing else.

Best Regards
Rick

o

Im still out here and doing ok.
Very curious hat and with history. I note on another thread the metal insignia quest is as intense as ever
Cheers
Martin

Well, it looks like I will be the only one with enough"balls'' on this forum to say what many forum members have e mailed amongst each other on this, and other forums...
This cap is the biggest joke and piece of crud ever posted anywhere.Ii am not like these sheep following the leader over the cliff..this cap is crap!!!!period! if I get banned, at least I will be the only one with the courage to tell it like it is.Thank you MCF and AHF for not fawning over this garbage!!!
Fake rubbed out tag, funny how you cannot get a clear pic. and it looks glued on or just placed on cap. not sewn.
You should of at least put some insigna on this """pre-production"" throw-up!!
Mark in Cleveland...

Very empirical analysis Mark...

"empirical" Mr.Jerry that is a three dollar word ,had to go to the dictionary for that one

So, Mark, are you saying that you don't believe this item to be authentic?

where does everybody base its originality on ?
Looks to be in mint condition for its age.
The tag wear is not consistent by the looks with the overall wear of the cap.
So white ...

Has anyone come across this in headgear books ?

Any wartime pictures of anybody wearing this ?
Just because there is an SS tag in it does not make it original to me.

Herr

quote:

Originally posted by Mark in Cleveland:
Well, it looks like I will be the only one with enough"balls'' on this forum to say what many forum members have e mailed amongst each other on this, and other forums...
This cap is the biggest joke and piece of crud ever posted anywhere.Ii am not like these sheep following the leader over the cliff..this cap is crap!!!!period! if I get banned, at least I will be the only one with the courage to tell it like it is.Thank you MCF and AHF for not fawning over this garbage!!!
Fake rubbed out tag, funny how you cannot get a clear pic. and it looks glued on or just placed on cap. not sewn.
You should of at least put some insigna on this """pre-production"" throw-up!!
Mark in Cleveland...

Mark,I can assure there are members here who have the manhood, as you so eloquently put it, to critique this headgear, however it would seem to me that you are nihilistic, and a legend in your own mind, I hope the rest of your day turns out better.