Original German WWII M34 Square Dip Fire Luftschutz Protection Police Helmet Shell with Double Decals & Comb

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used M34 "Square Dip" Third Reich helmet shell, outfitted for German WWII Fire Police (Feuerwehr) issue, and then later used by the Luftschutz Air Air Protection service. Civic issue helmets were often moved between organizations, particularly later in the war. It may also be that it was issued to a member of the fire police who was working closely with the Luftshutz. This example has the standard steel shell, with an aluminum comb on top. Features genuine double decals of of a NSDAP Party Shield on the right, and NSDAP Civic Police Eagle on the left. Both decals are retained at about 80%, showing light over all wear and chipping at the edges.

The LUFTSCHUTZ decal is retained a bit better at about 90%, showing overall wear and some cracking. The enamel top coat has checked and yellowed, giving it a great look. The exterior of this German helmet retains much of the original matte black paint, showing overall wear. There is also a bend and a crack on the right side where the skirt meets the visor, most likely from damage during service. We checked the interior of the shell, and the only marking we can see is Thale-Stahl, which indicates production by the Eisenhüttenwerke factory in Thale, Harz, Germany. The top mounted aluminum comb is in

good condition, having been painted black at some point, and showing a good amount o denting to the top from service, which has removed the paint. It still retains the underpadding and the "lip" around the comb, though the paint is flaked off on much of the area. All four of the liner attachment hollow rivets are present, however they do show damage from the liner having been removed at some point.

Overall a great opportunity to pick up a lovely service used condition WWII Civic Police Fire helmet shell, reused by the Luftschutz late in the war. Ready to research and display!

Formed in late 1932 the Deutsches Luftschutzverband, (German Air Protection League), was a voluntary organization designed to provide civil air raid protection in large civilian centers. Shortly after AH ascension to power the Deutsches Luftschutzverband was restructured and placed under the supervision of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, (National Air Ministry), under the control of Hermann Göring. On April 29TH 1933 the Deutsches Luftschutzverband was renamed RLB, Reichs Luftschutz Bund, (National Air Raid Protection League) and was given status as an official national organization tasked with all aspects of civil air raid defense. The RLB remained a voluntary organization with a small cadre of paid, full-time uniformed officials to oversee the organization's functions until June 1935 when obligatory service was introduced. Only the most basic uniform and equipment items were supplied to the cadre personnel, with the rest having to be bought personally by members. On September 26TH 1938 a specific helmet for RLB personnel was introduced that incorporated a raised horizontal "bead" between the visors and crown. These helmets commonly called the "Gladiator" style were supplemented with M35, M40 and M42 helmets that also incorporated a raised horizontal "bead" between the visors and crown. The Luftschutz also utilized a variety of captured helmets.

More on the Fire Protection Police:
On June 17TH 1936, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler was appointed to the newly created position of Chef der Deutschen Polizei im Reichsministerium des Innern (Chief of the German Police in the National Ministry of the Interior), effectively giving him full control of all police agencies within Germany including the Feuerschutzpolizei, (Fire Protection Police). As a result of this appointment and the restructuring of all the separate German state police into a single national police force new regulations were instituted on June 25TH 1936 to bring about uniformity in dress for all police through-out the country. The Police were divided into eight assorted branches of service with each branch being assigned a specific identifying, Truppenfarbe, (branch of service color), with the Feuerschutzpolizei being allocated carmine truppenfarbe. The Feuerschutzpolizei were further distinguished from the other police branches of service with blue uniforms and headgear instead of the typical police green uniforms.

Types of Helmets Used:
Prior to 1929 many fire-fighting units used leather helmets in various styles with most appearing similar to the leather spiked helmet (Pickelhaube) of World War I. These helmets bore a stamped metal crest on the front depicting the province or township to which the fire-fighting unit belonged.

In 1929 a light-weight plastic fiber (Vulkanfiber) helmet was prototyped for general use by all fire-fighting units. The first models were issued in 1932 and proved unworthy of further consideration. As a result a second prototype was explored using light-weight steel alloy known as "Edelstahl." During this time leather fire-fighting helmets were slowly replaced with a combination of surplus World War I model steel helmets and privately manufactured versions in the “Austrian” pattern shell. These early helmets were generally painted black although some were left in their original field-gray World War I color.

In 1934 the light-weight steel alloy prototype helmet was approved for general use by all fire-fighting units. This helmet is designated the “M1934” by modern collectors because of the year of its introduction. Several different versions of the M1934 helmet exist with many variations resulting from subtle differences in the air vents or visors. The M1934 helmet was painted semi-gloss black inside and out with two insignia placed one on each side.

Fire Protection Police helmets were manufactured with and without an aluminum metal comb. In some cases the metal comb was also painted black. As a result of a large surplus, M1934 helmets without combs were issued in 1940 for general wear by all fire-fighting personnel. The helmets used typical civilian style liner systems and chinstraps. The liners were made so that they could accommodate a removable black leather neck shield.