{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-luftschutz-air-defense-m38-beaded-gladiator-helmet-with-single-piece-shell-and-56cm-liner","title":"Original German WWII Luftschutz Air Defense M38 Beaded Gladiator Helmet with Single Piece Shell and 56cm Liner","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003cstrong\u003eLUFTSCHUTZ\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inner skirt is maker marked with stamping into the steel with \u003cstrong\u003eRL 2 - 39\/21\u003c\/strong\u003e. 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:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVertrieb genehmigt\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003egemäß § 8 Luftschutzgesetz\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKopfweite 56\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHöchstpreis 8.50 RM.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis indicates the distribution information and size:\u003cem\u003e Distribution approved according to Section 8 Air protection legislation. Head Width 56. Highest Price 8.50 Reichsmark.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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 \u003cstrong\u003e56\u003c\/strong\u003e on the rear finger, and the top tie string is present and fully intact.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall a lovely German WWII M38 Luftschutz helmet with a great look. Ready to research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormed in late 1932 the \u003cem\u003eDeutsches Luftschutzverband\u003c\/em\u003e, (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 \u003cem\u003eDeutsches Luftschutzverband\u003c\/em\u003e was restructured and placed under the supervision of the \u003cem\u003eReichsluftfahrtministerium\u003c\/em\u003e, (National Air Ministry), under the control of Hermann Göring. On April 29TH 1933 the \u003cem\u003eDeutsches Luftschutzverband\u003c\/em\u003e was renamed RLB, \u003cem\u003eReichs Luftschutz Bund\u003c\/em\u003e, (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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45315787685957,"sku":"ONSV25SSOS061","price":395.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/AE9036FF-87E3-4C70-A258-DD758C13188B.jpg?v=1783539167","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-luftschutz-air-defense-m38-beaded-gladiator-helmet-with-single-piece-shell-and-56cm-liner","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}