Original Czechoslovakia WWII Era Czech M30 Helmet – Used by Fascists in Spanish Civil War – Stenciled Insignia Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. During the outbreak of the civil war in Spain, there was a huge demand for helmets. Limited stocks of local manufactured helmets were quickly put to use by both sides in the conflict. As a result, large numbers of foreign helmets were purchased to fill the gap, such as Italian helmets, French Adrian helmets, German Stahlhelms and the Czech M30s.

These helmets are believed to have been made for the Czech Army; the M30 helmet was never issued. Instead Czechoslovakia developed a new design with the M32 helmet. With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil war the Spanish Republican Government brought nearly all the stock of the M30 helmets that had been manufactured.

During the civil war any captured helmets were used by both sides and hence Nationalist forces also used large numbers of M30 helmets. 

This example was utilized by the Fascists, with the insignia for the Franco’s Fascist 40th Infantry Regiment stenciled on one side, and the Fascist eagle painted on the other. These are extremely difficult to find with this insignia. The helmet retains its chinstrap but the liner is gone. The helmet still retains the three liner pins, however.

The M30 is notable for having two ventilation lugs similar to German helmets of WWI. Unlike the earlier German helmets the lugs were just intended for ventilation only and not to support any additional armor plates. The M30 is usual in that it can be worn with the lugs to the front as believed to be original design or with the lugs to the rear. Period photos show the Spanish method of wearing the helmet was largely with the lugs to the rear.

A lovely condition helmet ready for further research and display.