Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII early 1st Pattern NSKK padded leather crash helmet, complete with its original RZM label and size marking of 58cm. Constructed from molded blackened leather, it features the distinctive early padded protective bars, perforated domed steel “salt shaker” style side vents, 1st Pattern nickel plated brass alloy eagle, extended side and rear protective flaps, and a complete nine finger leather liner.

The helmet body is made from smooth blackened leather with raised padded protective bars running horizontally around the lower edge and another extending from front to rear over the crown. This early construction differs from later NSKK crash helmets, particularly in its use of perforated domed steel side vents rather than the later mesh style ventilation fittings.

The front center carries an early nickel plated brass alloy Reichsadler national eagle without an NSKK inscription. The eagle has the characteristic early form with downward sloping wings and a relatively squat profile. It is perched above an oak leaf wreath surrounding a black painted mobile swas. The insignia remains firmly attached in its original position.

A short blackened leather visor is stitched to the front, while extended grained black leather panels provide additional protection along the sides and rear. The side panels continue downward into the chinstrap assembly.

Both sides retain their leather ear covers, with openings at the rear designed to help reduce wind exposure while still allowing the wearer to hear. The stitching on the right side ear cover is now largely deteriorated, while the left side remains firmly attached.

The chinstrap buckle is still functional, and the opposing strap remains present, though the leather throughout this area is delicate and should be handled carefully.

The interior is fitted with a chestnut colored leather nine finger liner. All liner fingers remain present and intact, though most of the original top tie cord is missing. The rear neck flap remains supple and appears free of major tearing.

The liner is ink stamped:

58

indicating the helmet size.

Stitched beneath the liner is the original NSKK RZM label, which identifies the helmet as a:

Sturzhelm nach Vorschrift des NSKK

or "crash helmet manufactured according to NSKK regulations". The label also carries the RZM logo and a Herstellerfirma manufacturer field, though the maker number is too faded to read confidently.

The surviving lot number is:

006070

The RZM label itself shows honest service wear and fading, with portions of the printed information now difficult to decipher.

Overall condition clearly reflects actual age and use rather than depot storage. The black exterior finish shows widespread cracking, flaking, and localized splits in the leather. The visor and attached side and rear flaps show similar age related deterioration, while the side panels in particular exhibit substantial finish loss and flaking.

Despite this wear, the helmet retains an impressive amount of its original configuration, including the early padded construction, steel side vents, 1st Pattern eagle, liner, chinstrap hardware, ear covers, size marking, and original RZM label.

With its early 1st Pattern padded leather construction, perforated steel vents, original national eagle, complete nine finger liner, size 58 marking, and surviving NSKK RZM label with lot number 006070, this is a particularly appealing and well used example of an early NSKK crash helmet. The cracked and flaking exterior finish, leather splits, missing top tie, deteriorated right ear cover stitching, and delicate chinstrap leather are all fully disclosed. It would display especially well in an early NSKK uniform, RZM marked headgear, motor corps equipment, or advanced German WWII headgear collection.

History of the NSKK
The National Socialist Motor Corps (NSKK) was a successor organization to the older National Socialist Automobile Corps (NSAK), which had existed since being formed on 1 April 1930. Legends about the actual emergence of the NSKK go back as far as 1922, when the publisher of the Völkischer Beobachter (People's Observer) and founding member of the German Workers' Party (DAP), Dietrich Eckart, allegedly purchased trucks so the SA could perform their missions and transport propaganda materials. Martin Bormann founded the NSAK, which itself was the successor to the SA Motor Squadrons (Kraftfahrstaffeln). AH made the NSAK an official NSDAP organization on 1 April 1930. The NSAK was responsible for coordinating the use of donated motor vehicles belonging to party members, and later expanded to training members in automotive skills. Adolf Hühnlein was appointed Korpsführer (Corps Leader) of the NSAK, which was to serve primarily as a motorized corps of the Sturmabteilung (SA). Hühnlein became the organization's "nucleus".

The organization's name was changed to the National Socialist Motor Corps (Nationalsozialistisches Kraftfahrkorps; NSKK), becoming official on 1 May 1931. It was essentially a paramilitary organization with its own system of paramilitary ranks and the smallest of the NSDAP organizations. Despite its relatively smaller size, when the NSDAP celebrated Braunschweiger SA-day on 18 October 1931, the NSKK had upwards of 5,000 vehicles at its disposal to move men and materials.

The primary aim of the NSKK was to educate its members in motoring skills or what was called "fitness in motoring skills" (Motorische Ertüchtigung), but it also transported NSDAP and SA officials. In the mid-1930s, the NSKK also served as a roadside assistance group, comparable to the modern-day American Automobile Association or the British Automobile Association.

Membership in the NSKK did not require any prior knowledge of automobiles. It was thought that training in the NSKK would make up for any previous lack of knowledge. Under the guidance of the police, numerous NSKK men were stationed at traffic junctions and trained in traffic control.

On 20 July 1934, weeks after the major purge of the SA in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives, the NSKK was separated and promoted into an independent NSDAP organization. From 1935 onward, the NSKK also provided training for Panzer crews and drivers of the Heer (German Army). The NSKK had two sub-branches within the organization known as the Motor-HJ (Motor-HJ Motor-HJ) and Naval NSKK (Marine-NSKK). The Motor-HJ branch was formed by Reichsjugendführer (HJ Leader) Baldur von Schirach after he became a member of the NSKK. It operated 350 of its own vehicles for educational and training purposes. The Naval NSKK trained men in the operation and maintenance of boats.

During the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, the NSKK assumed responsibility for a variety of transport tasks, proving themselves effective at political propaganda by transporting foreign visitors around on designated tours. By 1938, NSKK members were undergoing mechanical and operational training for both civilian and military type vehicles. Over time, the training at NSKK schools became primarily focused on military related tasks. For services to the NSKK and due in part to the general success of the NSKK, Hühnlein was promoted to the position of a Reichsleiter of the NSDAP in 1938. Hühnlein was NSKK Korpsführer from 1931 until he died in 1942, when Erwin Kraus took over.