Hi All:

Some of you might have noticed this early SS-Allgemeine visor cap in the recent Empire Auction. I am usually more interested in SS daggers, but this one got my attention. It is virtually identical to one posted by John Pepera last July. Here is the link:

http://daggers.infopop.cc/eve/...370032365#3370032365

What caught my eye was this style label that provided a space for the SS Mann to fill in his SS number. This led me to another research adventure.

Enjoy!

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

Here is a shot of the cap’s interior.

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

What intrigued me was the label. This is the only format that I have noticed that had a space provided for the SS Mann to place his SS number. This one has “84 044” inked in and the cap was offered for sale as unidentified since the SS Mann with this membership number is not listed in the SS-Dienstalterslistes.

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

I was fortunate to initially have found SS Mann No. 84 044 to be Johann Tröster. He turned up in the National Archives on a list of contributors to the SS from January 1937. Note that he was a SS-Sturmmann on 1 January 1937 and promoted to SS-Rottenführer 1 December 1937.

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ross Kelbaugh (SS-Researcher),

Here is a view of the national emblem and the full jaw totenkopf. I was able to remove the national emblem and could see the holes left from the smaller earlier style that had been on the cap. I particularly like the wear on the totenkopf from the chinstrap buckle. Since I confirmed Tröster’s membership in 1937-1938 after the time when both later style emblems were to be placed on the caps, I wondered if I could find when he joined the SS to support the evidence of the earlier style emblem.

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

Fortunately, Tröster had a SS Enlisted Men File in the National Archives. Though it contained only one document, it was very helpful. The document (just a section is shown here) happens to be his early SS personnel record card (SS-Stammrollenblatt) which shows that he achieved the rank of SS-Mann (later SS-Sturmann) on 16 August 1933. This would help account for the evidence of the earlier emblem on his cap. Also note that it gives his hat size down towards the bottom as “56” (6 7/8 U.S.) which matches this cap. Hat sizes are often included on the various formats of SS enlisted & NCO personnel cards.

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

Checking the NSDAP membership files, I again had some luck. Tröster joined the party 1 February 1931 and was assigned no. 416023. His file card was still there (which is not always the case). To my surprise, it still had his photograph attached (only about 30-40% are still there) and he was wearing his early SS uniform! I could now put a face with the artifact. Too bad he wasn’t wearing his cap, but sometimes you can’t have everything. As a side bar, I have had one occasion where I have found a photograph of a SS Mann actually wearing his dagger that I had recently identified.

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

I wondered what might have happened to him during the war. His personnel record card only covered 1933-1934 and his latest record that I had was the contributions list from 1938. Again I had some luck when checking the German Grave Registry. It revealed that he went “Missing in Action” on 1 July 1942 near Rshew, Russia west of Moscow. This is the first time I have connected an artifact to someone who was a MIA. Note that the record did not include his rank so I couldn’t tell if he was in the SS or the Wehrmacht.

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

I contacted the German archives and again had some luck. They replied to my inquiry that Johannes Tröster was an Unteroffizier in Feldersatz-Bataillon 241 of the Wehrmacht. They also provided me with his Erkennungsmarken-beschriftung information that his number was “1527” and unit designation was 1. / Infanterie-Ersatz-Bataillon 44. Unfortunately, his story ends there at present. I was glad to be able to acquire his cap that took a lot of work and luck to identify. For me, these personalized artifacts are still the most exciting. In fact, I just acquired my first Waterloo medal (named to a private in the Grenadier Guards) and a Purple Heart for a Marine Lieutenant who was KIA on the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 giving me more stories to research!

Enjoy!

Ross Kelbaugh
www.ssdaggers.com

Thanks Ross, for an interesting, informative, and enjoyable thread. That is quite the souvenir of history you have there. Congrats on your good fortune.
Pauli

In the photo of Herr Troster, he appears to be wearing an SA uniform. The insignia on the cap looks more like a button than a totenkopf, and is positioned so that there doesn't appear to be room for the small black button that is usually above the totenkopf on an SS kepi. The collar piping looks like SA also. The bi-colar piping looks so light, it makes me think he may have been in SA Gruppe Hochland or Bayerische-Ostmark (both have light blue and white collar piping). You're EXTREMELY lucky to have found all his information. My early, salty Allgemeine SS visor cap is missing the RZM tag, but you can see where it once was. Lovely cap!!

Another thing that points to the uniform being SA, is that I believe that during the era of the photo, there should be white piping around his collar tabs.

Very nice. The detective work is the most fun part of this hobby I think!

Congratulations...

Mark

Fantastic research, Ross! Literally brings the cap to life. Hopefully Dr Abenheim will see this--I know he would be fascinated by it.

Way to go, Ross!!! You are a "Detective's Detective" in nailing down these
special TR Items.

CONGRATS!! Also, upon acquiring the fine early SS Visor! Dave/dblmed

What kind of metal is that on the full jaw cap skull? It differs from the 1936 eagle. It looks to be oxidized.

Josias, You have a very nice hat no doubt but the cap eagle is questionable. All the early cap eagles that I have encountered,.. the top of the wings always had a slight downward bend to them. This eagle has an upward bend as most repros do.I have a few of both of kinds for reference. Period photos will show and even Johann Trosters photo will show a downward bend. A close eye will reveal this. Research of period photos will also reveal this. The wreath looks alittle fat. Check out the reverse of the eagle. Where are the attaching clasps situated. Are the clasps flat? or are they pins. Would you be able to show more of a close up of the eagle and the jawless skull? Best regards,, Larry