Description:

NAMED WEHRMACHT GENERAL OFFICER'S CAP BY EREL
A fine example of a Wehmacht General Officer's visor cap, constructed of greenish-gray wool in a high peaked ‘saddle' shape, over a band of very dark green wool, with a black vulkanfiber visor with a brown checked underside. The crown of the cap and the edges of the band are trimmed with yellow celleon piping, with a yellow celleon double chin cord with adjustment knots secured over the visor with a gilt-finished pebbled button on each side, sewn to the sides of the cap through eyelets on the reverse. The peak of the cap displays a gilt-finished right-facing eagle badge, over a gilt-finished metal bullion wreath surrounding a metal national tricolor cockade. The interior of the cap is lined with pale gold artificial silk, and features a buff-colored leather sweatband blind embossed with the maker's mark ‘Erel Stirnschutze D.R.G.M. D.R.P angem'. The inside crown displays a printed gold metallic ‘Erel Sonderklasse' diamond label, over the designation ‘Extra'. The label is protected by a plastic diamond sweat shield, containing a handwritten, difficult to read owner's label, reading ‘Ernst Kostring', undoubtedly ERNST-AUGUST KOSTRING (1876-1953) who served as military attaché in Moscow during the invasion of Poland. The crown is slightly warped, with some very faint soiling visible to the underside. The cockade is slightly discolored. The sweatband shows minor wear and sweat stains, with additional sweat stains to the lining. Nevertheless, the cap remains in outstanding condition. On 8 August 1940, Kostring was warned by General Franz Halder that ‘he would have to answer a lot of questions soon', which made him one of a few people who knew of the invasion of the Soviet Union despite the non-aggression pact. With the planned Operation Barbarossa, his position in Moscow was untenable. He was repatriated under diplomatic immunity and assigned to the Führerreserve. 

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March 26, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000