Introduction
Civic style helmets were used throughout the Reich by various institutions for a variety of non combat duties like air raid protection although some will for sure have seen or been in combat during the last stages of the war.
To read more follow below link :
INFO LINK : WEHRMACHTSGEFOLGE
These helmets were predominantly used by :
- Polizei
- Feuerschutz
- Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB) , later Luftschutz
- Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK)
- Factory guards and safety personnel
We can divide the civic style helmets into 2 categories :
- Commercially produced lightweight helmets
- Combat helmets (M35 , M40 and M42’s) that received a bead that runs horizontally around the helmet.
An endless variety to suit your collector needs
The most commonly found types are the M34 “salt shaker” and the Gladiator style helmets but many other variants exist. As you will see in the gallery below many different liner systems were fitted.
From left to right : Early M34 , M34 Square dip , M34
From left to right : Gladiator 3 piece , Gladiator 1 piece , Flat rim Gladiator style
From left to right : M34 Feuerwehr “Early” model , M34 Feuerwehr later model , Commercial M18 “droopbill”
From left to right : M34 prototype single air vents , M34 single air vents , Civic Himmler style
Often these helmets are found without any size or maker stamp in the steel. Paint colors range from black (usually for Polizei , feuerwehr , Luftschutz and factory units) to green (Polizei , RLB and DRK) and grey (DRK).
The beaded shells always have a maker stamp and a lot number just like their combat counterparts.
Example of a beaded M35
Gladiator helmets have a specific letter/number code stamp on the rear back skirt that corresponds to the producer of that helmet.
Gladiator helmet maker codes list :
| RL2-38/28 (dreiteilig) Paul Diener metalldrückerei und Stanzerei, Bernhardstrasse 103, Dresden |
| RL2-38/29 (dreiteilig) Eisenhüttenwerk Thale A.G., Thale (Harz) |
| RL2-38/30 H. Becker & Co. Militär- und Feuerwehrausrüstungen, Marsiliusstrasse 4-6, Berlin |
| RL2-38/31 Maury & Co. Lederwarenfabrik, Louisenstrasse 16, Offenbach |
| RL2-38/35 onbekend/inconnu/unbekannt/unknown |
| RL2-38/42 onbekend/inconnu/unbekannt/unknown |
| RL2-39/1 A. Wunderlich Nachfahre, Fabrik für Heeresausrüstung, Finowstrasse 27, Berlin-Neukölln |
| RL2-39/2 Bath & Wagawa, Metallwarenfabrik, Reiβigerstrasse 22, Dresden |
| RL2-39/10 Rafflenbeul & Sohn, Press- und Stanzwerk, Hückeswagen (Rheinland.) |
| RL2-39/11 Carl Busse, Kurfürstenstrasse 11, Mainz |
| RL2-39/12 Robert Lubstein, Mützen- und Helmfabrik (EREL), Alt-Moabit 105, Berlin |
| RL2-39/14 Hans Römer, Fabrik für Heeresausrüstung, Arnulfstrasse 1/7, Neu Ulm |
| RL2-39/20 Albert Diedrich Domeyer, Osterfeuerbergstrasse 1, Bremen |
| RL2-39/21 Friedrich Wilhelm Quist, Metallwarenfabrik, Esslingen |
| RL2-39/24 Westfälische Aluminiumindustrie Jürger & Co., Lüdenscheid |
| RL2-39/25 (einteilig) Eisenhüttenwerk Thale, Thale (Harz) |
| RL2-39/26 H. Becker & Co., Militär- und Feuerwehrausrüstungen, Marsiliusstrasse 4-5 ,Berlin |
| RL2-39/30 Carl Busse, Kurfürstenstrasse 11, Mainz |
| RL2-39/38 Maury & Co., Lederwarenfabrik, Louisenstrasse 16, Offenbach |
| RL2-39/41 onbekend/inconnu/unbekannt/unknown |
| RL2-39/42 Gustav Rudolph Stanz-, Preß- und Ziehwerk, Oberpfannenstiel bei Aue |
| RL2-39/45 Robert Lubstein, Mützen- und Helmfabrik (EREL), Alt-Moabit 105, Berlin-Tiergarten |
| RL2-40/1 Sächsische Emaillier- und Stanzwerke, Lauter |
| RL2-40/2 Gebrüder Gräbner, Crottendorf/Erzgebirge |
| RL2-40/12 Alfred Landmann, Dresden |
| RL2-40/13 Hans Römer, Fabrik für Heeresausrüstung, Arnulfstrasse 1/7, Neu-Ulm |
| RL2-40/14 E. Martin Scheithauer KG, Zwönitz / Sachsen |
| RL2-40/16 Maury & Co., Louisenstrasse 16, Offenbach |
| RL2-40/21 onbekend/inconnu/unbekannt/unknown |
| RL2-41/1 Schmalzeder Erben, Mügelner Strasse 29, Dresden |
| RL2-42/1 C. Pose, Wehrausrüstungen, Boxhagener Strase 16, Berlin |
USA patent chinstraps
The USA patent 1590400 chinstrap found on different models of Third Reich lightweight helmets , mostly defined as Fireman’s helmets or Polizei helmets.
This patent dates back to 1926 and the inventor is Alphonse, Widmer Harry.
These straps were in use well before WW2.
Here’s an outtake from the Baer book on German helmets that shows a period advertisement which features this style of strap.
