Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice genuine steel construction M34 "Square Dip" Third Reich helmet, outfitted for German WWII Police issue, as they were issued early during NSDAP rule in Germany. It has two of the distinctive "salt shaker" style seven hole vents on each aide, as is correct, but unlike most we see, they are actually separate pieces of steel inserted into holes in the shell, so this is a VERY early helmet. Features genuine double decals of a "mobile" Swas on the right, and a tilted national colors decal on the left. There are plugged holes on the top of the helmet for mounting of a comb, and we can see the outline of one, so this helmet may have had one installed for a short time for fire police use, before being sent to the order police.

The exterior of this German helmet retains most of the original black paint, with some chips, scratches, and oxidation spotted across the exterior. The Swas decal is retained at about 80%, and the National Colors is about the same, with both showing wear and a lovely age toned color to the white part of the decals. They also show a lovely pattern of checking throughout from degradation of the lacquer top coat, confirming originality and age. There are some small dents, but no major damage, just the expected wear from service. We checked the interior of the helmet, but were not able to locate any markings.

Comes with a complete leather liner with all three hollow attachment rivets still present, and the three cork spacers are present on all. The installed liner is the standard "Civic" type, made from leather over a felt padded fiber band, which shows moth damage to the padding. All eight "fingers" are still present, and there are perforations on the forehead area to help sweat evaporate. It still retains the original top tie, and is marked with size 55 on the rear finger. The attached chinstrap is quite sturdy, and shows some cracking to the finish. All 5 of the tabs on the liner for attachment of a leather neck protector are present, and are the early pattern, which are more of a "toggle" than a tab.

Overall a great opportunity to get a very early NSDAP Civic Police helmet with lots of character. Ready to display!

The Ordnungspolizei, abbreviated Orpo, meaning "Order Police", were the uniformed police force in NSDAP Germany from 1936 to 1945. The Orpo organization was absorbed into the NSDAP monopoly on power after regional police jurisdiction was removed in favor of the central N government ("Reich-ification", Verreichlichung, of the police). The Orpo was controlled, nominally by the Interior Ministry but its executive functions rested with the leadership of the SS until the end of World War II. Owing to their green uniforms, Orpo were also referred to as Grüne Polizei (green police). The force was first established as a centralized organization uniting the municipal, city, and rural uniformed police that had been organized on a state-by-state basis.

The Ordnungspolizei encompassed virtually all of NSDAP Germany's law-enforcement and emergency response organizations, including fire brigades, coast guard, and civil defense. In the prewar period, Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, and Kurt Daluege, chief of the Order Police, cooperated in transforming the police force of the Weimar Republic into militarized formations ready to serve the regime's aims of conquest and racial annihilation. Police troops were first formed into battalion-sized formations for the invasion of Poland, where they were deployed for security and policing purposes, also taking part in executions and mass deportations. During World War II, the force had the task of policing the civilian population of the occupied and colonized countries beginning in spring 1940.