Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition original German WWII M40 “Beaded” steel helmet configured for Luftschutz Civil Air Defense use, stamped Q64 for manufacture by F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. of Esslingen. It retains approximately 75% of its original dark blue finish, a surviving Luftschutz front decal, all three liner retaining pins with cork spacers, a complete nine finger civic liner clearly marked 57, and part of its original black leather chinstrap. Beaded Luftschutz helmets are considerably less commonly encountered than the more familiar Gladiator patterns and make a particularly interesting addition to a German civil defense collection.

The stamped steel shell follows the general form of the military M40 helmet but incorporates the distinctive rolled bead around the shell. This feature helped distinguish helmets intended for Luftschutz and related civil use from standard military issue examples.

The exterior retains approximately 75% of its original dark blue paint. There is overall service and age wear, with areas of paint loss and oxidation across the top and sides of the dome. Several small dents and scuffs are present, but there is no major structural damage.

The interior paint is much better preserved and remains strongly retained overall.

The front LUFTSCHUTZ decal is still present. The clear top coating has worn considerably, leaving portions of the design and lettering somewhat faint, while much of the underlying silver layer remains visible. There are also localized areas where wear has gone completely through the finish to the steel shell.

The rear interior neck guard is stamped:

1834

The left interior apron is marked:

Q64

The Q maker code identifies F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. of Esslingen, while 64 denotes the shell size. Size 64 is a nice smaller size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/8.

All three liner retaining split pins remain present and retain their original paint to varying degrees. The large cork spacer washers are also still in place between the shell and liner band.

The helmet retains its civic issue nine finger leather liner with all fingers intact. One of the rear fingers is clearly size marked:

57

The leather shows staining and wear from use and has developed an attractive light chestnut brown color. It remains soft and supple, and the original top tie string is still present.

The black leather chinstrap is only partially intact. The buckle side remains complete, while the longer adjustment section has suffered substantial tearing. Only two of the original adjustment holes remain present.

Condition overall is very good for a service used Luftschutz helmet. The shell retains strong dark blue paint, the original front decal remains identifiable, all three liner pins and cork spacers are present, and the size 57 nine finger liner remains complete and supple. The primary condition issues are the exterior oxidation and paint loss together with the heavily damaged long section of the chinstrap.

For the Luftschutz or German civil defense headgear collector, this is a particularly appealing beaded M40 example. The Q64 Quist maker marking, rear number 1834, size 57 liner, surviving Luftschutz decal, original cork spacers, and characteristic beaded shell give it excellent collector interest and strong display presence.

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.