Original German WWII M38 Luftschutz Beaded Gladiator Air Defense Helmet Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition original M1938 Beaded Luftschutz (Air Protection) Gladiator German helmet. The exterior of this German helmet retains over 95% of the original dark blue paint, with just a bit of scratching and dents. The helmet retains all four of the original split pin rivets, with almost complete paint on the tops. The Luftschutz decal is clean and close to 100% complete, with only a few tiny scuff marks.

The inner skirt is maker marked with stamping into the steel, and under that is more information applied with decals. The decals are still fully legible:

RL 2 – ?? ?8
Vertrieb genehmigt gemäß § 8
des Luftschutzgesetz
Höchstpreis 8.50 RM

The markings after the “RL 2” are stamped VERY faintly, so we can only make out the last number, which is 8. The rest of the markings are distribution and price information:  Distribution approved in accordance with Section 8 of the Air protection Act. Maximum Price 8.50 RM.

The leather liner is complete and in good condition. The leather is very soft and supple, and the top securing string is present. Though, two of the cork pads were replaced at some point with cardboard. The chin strap unfortunately has degraded a bit, having shrunk and become stiff, so the leather is delicate and cracked.

Overall a very good complete German WWII M38 Luftschutz helmet, a very good example of this model helmet from World War Two. Ready to add to your collection and display!

History of the RLB

The Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB) (National Air Raid Protection League)  was organized by Hermann Göring in 1933 as a voluntary association. Existing volunteer air raid precaution associations were forced to merge with RLB. In 1939 the RLB became a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization), while in 1944 it became an affiliated organization of the NSDAP Party. It was in charge of educating and training ordinary German men and women in civil defense procedures necessary for the basic level of local self-help of the civil population against air raids. The local level was formed around air raid wardens and operated in small first intervention squads. The training include fire fighting, protection against chemical weapons, communication procedures and preparation of houses and apartments against air raids.