Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting M1938 Beaded Luftschutz Gladiator German helmet, which looks to have seen light to moderate service during the WWII era. The exterior of this German helmet retains over 90% of the original dark blue paint, showing light overall wear, with some denting on the crown. The rolled edge is missing a good amount of the paint, which is not uncommon, and gives it a great "been there" look. There is also a number 1 painted on the right side of the helmet in white, but there is also some green paint in areas, which we believe is possible wartime, or more likely post war use. In some areas it looks almost like the green paint is UNDER the blue, but we think it simply got into some chips in the original paint, and was not removed.

The helmet has all four of the original liner attachment hollow rivets, all showing light wear, and all retain the cork spacers on the outside of the liner. The LUFTSCHUTZ decal is in good condition, retained at over 95% with just a bit of wear on the left side, which has partly displaced one part of the decal. The inner skirt is maker marked with stamping into the steel with RL 2 - 39 / 11. These markings would seem to indicate that the helmet was made in 1938, though we do not know if any records were kept of the maker. It may be that it was made under a 1938 contract. There is no Luftschutz information decal below this, and no evidence that one was installed in the past.

The interior of the helmet is fit with a leather nine finger liner, which has felt underpadding over the red fiber band, similar to most M34 Civic helmets. It is faintly marked with size 56 on the rear finger, and the top tie string is present and fully intact. The original leather chinstrap is present and fully intact, with a functional double buckles, though the finish is a bit worn and cracked.

Overall a very good condition German WWII M38 Luftschutz helmet with a great lightly used look and some interesting features. 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.