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ArticlesHermann Göring’s peaked capIlse BogaertsCollection of Uniforms, Textile and Equipment, Royal Military Museum, BrusselsThe Royal Military Museum has anactive acquisition policy. Thisimplies that all Heads of Departmentare encouraged to take the necessarysteps in order to extend and completetheir collections. Pieces can beacquired from established auctioneersor bought from private owners.Donation or legacies are alsoaccepted. 2008 turned out to be anexceptional year for the “Uniform andEquipment” collection. Some 125Second World War and post 1945objects have been registered. Thepieces vary in nature and range fromprotective NBC gear (nuclearbiological, chemical) and paratroopersuits to countless carrying straps,cartridge belts and kit bags.Provenance is very diverse: weinventoried Belgian, American, Britishand German material. We wouldnevertheless like to present here onetruly exceptional object: MarshalHermann Göring’s white Luftwaffepeaked cap or service cap (Rosenheim12/01/1893 – Nuremberg 15/10/1946).Göring became a member of theIt goes without sayingthat the purchase ofsuch prestigious pieces,belonging to historicallyimportant people,demands a specialfinancial effort.NSDAP Nazi party in 1922 and Hitlerrewarded him with the title ofReichsmarschall in 1940, as a token ofgratitude for services rendered asHead of the German Air Force duringthe Blitzkrieg against the Netherlands,Belgium and the British and Frencharmies. He had carefully constructedhis position during the interwarperiod, first as the leader of the SturmAbteilung (1923), then as a Member ofParliament for the national socialistNSDAP (1928), and four years later aspresident of the Reichstag. As HomeSecretary he created the Gestapo(Nazi Germany’s secret police) in 1933.In 1935, shortly after Hitler’s rise topower, he became the Führer’s mainadvisor. That same year he put downthe foundations for a new kind ofmilitary organization, in preparationfor future warfare in the air, theLuftwaffe.Göring was definitely a key figurein the NSDAP rise to power and thepreparation of the Second World War.As marshal of the Reich in 1940 hewas at the height of his influence, butafter the Battle of Britain Hitler nolonger turned to him for advice. Hekept his title, but the contents of hisfunction were eroded.ISSUE 01 MAGAZINE 35