This is an excellent and rare example of a Diplomatic Officer's Visor Cap captured from the Nazi Governor of Occupied Holland, Dr. Artur Syess-Inquart. The hat is accompanied by a letter from The Canadian Military Studies Museum and other documents. The letter from the Military Studies Museum states that this hat belonged to Artur Syess-Inquart and was captured from him, along with a Diplomatic Sword by Pte. (Private) E. Dubreuil of A. Company, 1st Battalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment. The letter also states that Pte. Dubreuil is listed as being on the regimental embarkation roll for D-Day (June 6, 1944) and was in Holland when Germany surrendered in May 1945. The cap is made of navy blue worsted wool with silver piping around the crown and band and a black patent leather visor. The cap peak is embroidered with a large silver bullion right-facing National Socialist, eagle and swastika insignia. A silver bullion wreathed cockade with oak leaves on either side of the wreath is embroidered on the band. The cap has a silver bullion chinstrap secured by two small aluminum pebble finished silver buttons. The cap interior has a gold silk lining with celluloid sweat protector and russet sweat band. The owner's name, "Dr. Artur Syess-Inquart" is printed on a small label in the celluloid protector. Artur Syess-Inquart was an ardent Austrian Nazi who rose to the top rank of the party. He was appointed High Commissioner of the occupied Netherlands in 1940. In that capacity he ruthlessly exterminated Dutch Jews. After his capture by the Canadian Army in 1945, he was tried by the Nuremberg Tribunal, convicted of war crimes and executed on October 16, 1946. This is a rarely encountered Diplomatic Officer's Visor Cap identified to an infamous Nazi war criminal with solid provenance.

Excellent. The hat shows very little wear and the blue wool fabric is dark. The patent leather visor has the flex marks that are inevitable with this material even with careful storage and remains very good. The silver bullion piping, insignia and chinstrap are bright and excellent. The cap lining, sweat band and sweat protector are excellent with very minimal wear. This is a rare and historic piece of Nazi Diplomatic Officer's visor cap in outstanding condition.