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POLICE SIDECAP - "SCHNITZ"

 

 

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The picture, taken in 1962, shows two Venom pilots; the one to the right is wearing a police officer sidecap.

Those caps, purchased privately, were “nonstandard” military equipment and obtainable in numerous design (e.g. the company KREMA had at least eight different models available).

 

With the introduction of the field-grey uniforms in 1914, police sidecaps appeared for the first time. During the Second World War, they were particularly popular among mountain infantry officers, pilots and tank crews. Those caps, despite the introduction of the “Ordonnanz 1949” equipment, were worn until the ’70.

 

Besides the well-known "Schnitz" in German, “Bustina” in Italian, the cap was known as "Bananenmütze" (banana cap), due to its curved shape.