Item:
ONJR24AD070

In stock

Original German WWII M34 Square Dip Double Decal Fire Protection Police Helmet with Comb and Rare Leather Neck Shield - Feuerwehr

Regular price $595.00

Item Description

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used condition complete M34 "Square Dip" Third Reich helmet, outfitted for German WWII Fire Police (Feuerwehr) issue. This example has the standard steel shell, with an aluminum comb on top, and has a complete liner and chinstrap. However, it also has the rear leather neck protector, which is something have only had a few times before!

The shell features genuine double decals of of a NSDAP Party Shield on the right, and NSDAP Civic Police Eagle on the left. The exterior of this German helmet still retains a good amount of the original black paint, however there is definitely wear and past oxidation, which has resulted in the paint bubbling up in areas. This was cleaned off, and now there is a lovely pattern of light peppering over the exterior, particularly on the left side of the helmet. Both decals are retained well, with the shield at about 95%, showing some lovely age checking and toning, and the Police Eagle at 75%, showing wear from service and cleaning.

The top mounted comb is in very good condition, showing some small dents and scratches, but no major damage. It is solid aluminum alloy, with no plating on top, and there is no oxidation visible. The black underpadding is mostly missing now, with only the portions underneath the comb still retained. We were not able to find any markings stamped into the shell.

The interior still retains a mostly complete leather liner, however it definitely is aged from use and exposure, and the interior of the helmet shows a lot of oxidation. Some of the "fingers" have torn off, and the original top tie is only partly present. There is no leather top pad, and only three of the tabs for attachment to the neckguard are intact. One has had the top tear off, and the other had detached from the liner, and is stuck in the leather neck shield. The leather chinstrap is intact, with a functional clip attachment, however the leather is definitely delicate.

The leather neck shield is in good condition, with a bit of tearing at the edge, and the leather has become a bit stiff due to use and age. The black finish is well retained, and it looks to have been folded up inside of the liner for a good amount of time.

Overall a great opportunity to pick up a lovely service used condition WWII Civic Police Fire helmet, complete with a rare leather neck shield. Ready to display!

More on the Fire Protection Police:
On June 17TH 1936, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler was appointed to the newly created position of Chef der Deutschen Polizei im Reichsministerium des Innern (Chief of the German Police in the National Ministry of the Interior), effectively giving him full control of all police agencies within Germany including the Feuerschutzpolizei, (Fire Protection Police). As a result of this appointment and the restructuring of all the separate German state police into a single national police force new regulations were instituted on June 25TH 1936 to bring about uniformity in dress for all police through-out the country. The Police were divided into eight assorted branches of service with each branch being assigned a specific identifying, Truppenfarbe, (branch of service color), with the Feuerschutzpolizei being allocated carmine truppenfarbe. The Feuerschutzpolizei were further distinguished from the other police branches of service with blue uniforms and headgear instead of the typical police green uniforms.

Types of Helmets Used:
Prior to 1929 many fire-fighting units used leather helmets in various styles with most appearing similar to the leather spiked helmet (Pickelhaube) of World War I. These helmets bore a stamped metal crest on the front depicting the province or township to which the fire-fighting unit belonged.

In 1929 a light-weight plastic fiber (Vulkanfiber) helmet was prototyped for general use by all fire-fighting units. The first models were issued in 1932 and proved unworthy of further consideration. As a result a second prototype was explored using light-weight steel alloy known as "Edelstahl." During this time leather fire-fighting helmets were slowly replaced with a combination of surplus World War I model steel helmets and privately manufactured versions in the “Austrian” pattern shell. These early helmets were generally painted black although some were left in their original field-gray World War I color.

In 1934 the light-weight steel alloy prototype helmet was approved for general use by all fire-fighting units. This helmet is designated the “M1934” by modern collectors because of the year of its introduction. Several different versions of the M1934 helmet exist with many variations resulting from subtle differences in the air vents or visors. The M1934 helmet was painted semi-gloss black inside and out with two insignia placed one on each side.

Fire Protection Police helmets were manufactured with and without an aluminum metal comb. In some cases the metal comb was also painted black. As a result of a large surplus, M1934 helmets without combs were issued in 1940 for general wear by all fire-fighting personnel. The helmets used typical civilian style liner systems and chinstraps. The liners were made so that they could accommodate a removable black leather neck shield.

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