Original German WWII M38 Luftschutz Beaded Gladiator Air Defense Helmet with 57cm Liner – dated 1940 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice patinated original M1938 Beaded Luftschutz Gladiator German helmet, which looks to have seen moderate service during the WWII era, and then may have not been stored correctly afterwards. The exterior of this German helmet retains a good amount of the original dark blue paint, however it also shows a lot of speckled oxidation coming through the paint. It looks almost like it was in an area where morning dew formed repeatedly on the surfaces facing upwards, and definitely looks interesting! There is also some paint flaking around the rim, and at the seams. The interior shows just some paint loss around the rim with a bit of flaking, and overall the paint is in much better condition.

The helmet has all four of the original liner attachment hollow rivets, all showing light oxidation. The rectangular cork pads are still present around all of them, though they do show some degradation. The LUFTSCHUTZ decal is in very good condition, showing the wear and oxidation pattern as the rest of the exterior.

The inner skirt is maker marked with stamping into the steel with:

RL 2 – 38 / 28.
Höchstpreis RM 8.- 

These markings would seem to indicate that the helmet was made in 1940, though we do not know if any records were kept of the maker. It may be that it was made under a 1940 contract. The second line translates to “Highest Price 8 Reichsmark”. Below is an original Luftschutz helmet information decal / paint stamp:

Vertrieb genehmigt
gemäß § 8 Luftschutzgesetz
Kopfweite: 57

This indicates the pricing and distribution information: Distribution approved according to Section 8 Air protection legislation. Head Width 57.

The liner in the helmet is a standard leather German WWI style, with the three larger panels attached to a liner band, which we often see in Luftschutz helmets. The panels are attached to a white oilcloth covered black fiber band. The panels definitely all show tearing, dry rot, and other degradation, and the top tie strap is missing. The leather chin strap has also torn away, just leaving some short sections attached to the liner band.

Overall a very nice German WWII M38 Luftschutz helmet with a great service used look. Ready to research and display!

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.