Original German WWII M34 Civic Square Dip DRK Red Cross Steel Helmet – Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare genuine steel construction M34 “Square Dip” Third Reich helmet, outfitted for German Red Cross (DRK) use. While there were medics in the field, their services were also needed locally, and were issued these “civic” style helmets. This example looks to originally have been issued for Police or Fire Dept. use, with black paint, but it was later repainted gray for the DRK and had a DRK paper decal applied.

The exterior of this German helmet retains most of the original gray repaint present, with the expected wear from service. This is mostly on the raised vents and around the edge of the helmet. It was only repainted on the exterior, so the interior is still the original black. The Red Cross decal is retained at around 85%, with overall wear and missing chips, as shown. There is also a scrape on the right side, and there is some missing along the bottom.

The helmet comes with a complete leather liner, though it definitely does show age and deterioration, with splitting over the edge and in the fingers of the leather. All three cork washers are still intact with the original split pins installed. Leather chin strap is intact, but has some splits, and other age-related wear.

A very nice example of a rare WWII German Red Cross (DRK) Civic Helmet, ready to display!

History of the German Red Cross (DRK)

The DRK, “Deutsches Rotes Kreuz” (German Red Cross), a voluntary civil assistance organization originally instituted in 1864, was officially acknowledged by the Geneva Convention in 1929. In December 1937 it gained status as a legally recognized organization by the NSDAP. As with other essential services in Third Reich Germany, it came under control of the NSDAP in late 1938 under the auspices of the Ministry of the Interior’s Social Welfare Organization.