Original German WWII Luftschutz Air Defense Beaded M40 Helmet – Q64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is quite a find! M40 Luftschutz helmets are the rarest of all the Luftschutz style and very hard to find. This helmet is stamped sheet steel construction, M40 style with the addition of an embossed horizontal “bead” positioned at the apex of the front and rear visors and crown.

The helmet retains almost all of its original dark blue satin finish. The front center of the helmet has a Luftschutz emblem decal in place. The black detailed, silver decal features stylized spread wings with a central oak-leaf sprig and a canted swas positioned below a scripted banner, LUFTSCHUTZ. The decal is retained over 90%, and looks excellent. Shell is stamped with the manufacturers code and size, Q64, indicating manufacture by Quist in Esslingen, Germany in size 64cm, a nice medium size. It is also stamped 478 on the rear skirt.

All three liner retaining rivets are all intact with most of their original paint, and the liner is complete and in excellent condition. The synthetic leather liner is all original, and looks great. The leather chinstrap is also present, though it does have a repair and is in relatively delicate condition.

This is a great chance to own an excellent example of a rare German WW2 helmet.

History of the Luftschutz

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 defence. The RLB remained a voluntary organization with a small cadre of paid, full-time uniformed officials to oversee the organizations 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.