Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely original M1938 Luftschutz Gladiator German helmet, with a rare early single piece beaded shell. Shortly afterwards it was found that due to the size of the "skirt" it was more time efficient to add the skirt later, with welded seams on the sides. We thoroughly checked the shell, and there are no weld markings we can see. This example looks to have seen only light service during the war, and is in very good cosmetic condition, though for some reason the original chinstrap was cut off just below the liner.

The the original dark blue paint on the shell is very well retained, showing only light wear, with no real chipping, just scuffs and scrapes from use and long storage. It still has all three of the liner attachment split pins present with double layer cork pads, used when putting a smaller liner in a larger shell like this. The LUFTSCHUTZ decal is about 95% complete, showing overall light wear and some age-related degradation. It looks like the decal originally had slight mis-alignment when being made, but was still used.

The inner skirt is maker marked with stamping into the steel with RL 2 - 39/21. These markings would seem to indicate that the helmet was made in 1939, though we do not know if any records were kept of the maker. It may be that it was made under a 1939 contract. Below is a original Luftschutz helmet information decal / paint stamp, which is almost completely intact and easily legible:

This indicates the distribution information and size: Distribution approved according to Section 8 Air protection legislation. Head Width 56. Highest Price 8.50 Reichsmark.

The interior of the helmet is fit with a leather six finger liner, which has felt underpadding over the fiber band, similar to most M34 Civic helmets, though it is not red but black, and is configured slightly differently. It is marked with size 56 on the rear finger, and the top tie string is present and fully intact.

Overall a lovely German WWII M38 Luftschutz helmet with a great look. 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.