German Luftschutz Helmet

fourth in a series of Civil Defense helmets

Luftangriff!

When your enemy controls the skies, the idea of Civil Defense grows large in the public imagination.

The "Luftschutz" was the air defense arm of the RLB; civilians, that is old folks, women, and children performing all of the Civil Defense roles so abundantly available in a smoldering and crumbling Germany while the last of the able bodied men were being pushed into the sausage machine of Hitler's "Thousand-year Reich".

This brave-looking dark blue helmet, of that Germanic-flared style, has a deep dome, wide protective skirt, and is emblazoned with the winged swastika insignia of the Luftschutz.

The profile demonstrates that typical "Fritz" style. The 'bead" or circumference ridge is an element we'll see again in a police-style helmet in a later posting of German helmets.

These distinctive colander-like ventilation holes prompt thoughts of draining pasta.



The rear view shows the widely flared skirt to fine effect.

The top view shows a finish in quite good condition, all very much intact save for that ding, caused perhaps by falling masonry? I'm hoping the damage occurred as the lid was thrown down in greeting the advancing food trucks of the American GIs (and not Russkis, for heaven's sake).

The very simple, very cheap, liner is indicative of the scrimping that Germany had to resort to in order to support a madman's hallucination of world domination. The cork spacers provided the wearer with a scant eighth of an inch separation between shell and skull. Let's hope our Aryan Air raid warden had a healthy head of hair.

The size is stamped on one of the liner fingers. The leather, by the way is very thin and cheap. Had the war gone on another year the liner doubtless would have ended up as some Berliner's lunch.

Manufacturer's mark stamped in the rear skirt.

Those familiar with German helmets will recognize the trusty split rivet that fastened the liner to the shell. The liner band, by the way seems to be some sort of pressed heavy paper.

The cork spacer is all that lies between the wearer and a concussion.

The nicest piece of leather is the chinstrap, of which only the buckle-half is currently attached.

This insignia will also be found on the captured helmets of many nations before the war ended.

Three cute German girls in Luftschutz gear, dutifully and cheerily marching toward oblivion...

as Hitler's Reich reaps the whirlwind.

As you collect, reflect.

The Luftschutz "gladiator style" helmet of World War Two. A sad cautionary icon, reminding us that willingly following pied pipers and maniacs can bring with it a terrible price.

Next Monday's installment will be the British MkII air-raid warden's helmet of WWII.

Note: the three German girls photo is a copyrighted image of German-Helmets.com and is used here without permission, though I'm still hoping to hear from them.

Danish M48 Steel Helmet - Civil Defense

third in a series of five civil defense helmet posts

What's not to like about Denmark?

Things from Denmark are always great...unless of course they happen to be ferocious Vikings who want to kick in your door and your teeth and rape your women and your chickens. That part of Denmark I can live without, thank you very much.

Otherwise, I like all things Danish, especially their appreciation of that stellar classic of helmet design: the M1.


Drink it in, you know you love it.

The M48 is an outstanding clone of the venerable American M1 design. Manufactured in Austria, Germany, as well as Denmark, this version of the M1, although not a combat item, is absolutely outstanding in all respects. Proving that sometimes you can improve upon the original.


Now this from Joseba's fantastic site (translation via bablefish):

The helmet Mº 48, as it happened prior to the successive helmets of the Danish army, at the beginning the distribution of new helmets of Kevlar massively has been destined to the Civil defense (Civilforsvaret). For it a black painting seal has been printed them with the letters " CF" under the Danish real crown. Besides the seal, mate is frequent to paint the helmets of gray color (in other models of Danish helmets, the seal of the DC was used to print in the leather of the trimming).

Gracias Joseba!

Also, Greg Pickersgill has info and more photos at his fine site right here.


So far no surprises for any fan of the M1. The steely blue gray color is quite attractive and the finish on this unissued helmet is absolutey mint.

Stamped in the dome of the shell is the insignia for the Danish Civil Defense organization -

the Civilforsvaret.

Again the liner presents nothing startling, all very much the M1 family.

Here's a real improvement over the American version: A fabric chinstrap. Made of heavy duty webbing this chinstrap is far more functional and durable that that very thin leather strap of the US M1 (just think of how many broken ones you've encountered while pawing through stacks of old Westinghouses and Capacs).

Like the original this liner has the insignia grommet front and center.

That very distinctive, Nazi-defeating profile.

Chinstrap bales are in all respects identical to the late war M1.

Aside from the web chinstrap the liner also has a pronounced lip, very much unlike the American original. This lip would be very helpful for channelling and shedding rain.

Close- up of the cam slider. Everything about this helmet smacks of very high production standards.

Like the shell, the liner interior is also stamped with the Civiforsvaret "CF" surmounted by the royal crown of the queen.

Though one wonders why the Danes would mark their helmets with an old crown when they could render what the queen actually wears...

A smokingly-stylish hat! Goodness, yes!

This is the very chic Queen Margrethe II who is the monarch of that fine country of Denmark. A stylish gal who, apparently, isn't afraid to speak out against Islamic bullies. You go, Margie Girl!

Good lookin' Queen...

Good lookin' helmet!

Oops! gotta go...

Someone's at the door.

The 1881 Cavalry Helmet finds a great home

Some of you may recall my somewhat spectacular Model 1881 U.S. Cavalry helmet (above) featured on this blog some time ago (click here).

For as much as I enjoyed that particular helmet it was becoming increasingly the "odd man out" in my collection of 20th century lids.  Reluctantly, a few months ago, I decided to part with it. I auctioned it on ebay with a very reasonable reserve, and it got snapped right up.

What's really cool about this whole transactions is where it ended up and what its new mission is.

That helmet is now on display at Farmington High School (link here)

in Farmington CT as part of a larger display of militaria belonging to the High School Military History Club. How cool is that?

Here's a recent email I got from my winning bidder and fellow teacher, Bob:

Hi Mannie,

Our high school is Farmington High School, in Farmington, CT. We formed the military history club about 5 years ago. We found many students wanted to know more about the military side of history that is omitted from from many history classes today. They asked myself, a math teacher and 28 year veteran of the US Army and West Point Grad Class of '73, and a Social Studies teacher, Farrel, who has a vast background in the military acqusition side of several defense contractors if we would sponsor the club. We try to take periods the students are studying in class and explore the military history (Weapons, tactics, strategies) of the time period and relate them to events of the period. Students research topics and we facilitate discussions. What amazes both Farrel and myself is the knowledge and interest these students have about military history. Our club has about 30 members out of a high school population of about 1200 students, one of the largest clubs in school.

Thanks for your interest.

Bob

                    (home sweet home)


What a satisfying way to part with a favorite helmet that's been a centerpiece of my collection for over 20 years.

Here's to happy endings... Cheers!

Mannie

United States Civil Defense "OCD" WWII

second in a series of five civil defense posts

"Don't Scream", is always good advice

The World War Two homefront in the United States had already learned a lot from our friends in Britain regarding air raids and civil defense.

These spotlights and tracers converge on a false alarm high in the sky over Los Angeles.

Early on in that war there was already an organized structure of roles and responsibilities in place for trained, enthusiastic civilians.

Every specialized job had its own identifying insignia, quite a dazzling array!

I think the pinetree insignia had something to do with automobile deoderizers.

Pictured here from the homefront of Grand Rapids, Michigan is the typical "Office of Civil Defense" steel helmet of WWII.

The generic CD insignia is a slide-on water transfer.



Although many US M1917 helmets were recycled for the Civil Defense role, these "OCD" helmets were unique and had, as evident here, a much deeper bowl than the "tin lid" of WWI.

This symmetrical helmet, stamped out of steel may have come from the same Detroit machinery that was stamping out automotive hubcaps prior to US entry into the war.

Don't mess with the "Arsenal of Democracy".

The interior shows a suspension system very similar to the US M1 helmet liner.

The property stamp on the underside of the brim.

Simple size adjustment provided a snug, custom-fit for the owner, in this case a woman from...

Grand Rapids Michigan.

The chinstrap (and suspension) is a cotton twill, secured to a spot-welded bail.

Close-up of the generic Civil Defense insignia.

Our aunts and uncles, moms and dads who donned these helmets in WWII did their bit to keep America safe from the Japanese...



and return to those Auto plants to once again produce gas-guzzling cars . Until we got rescued, that is, by fuel-efficient Japanese technology.

provenance:
accession number:
United States Civil Defense OCD helmet, WWII
Acquired 2002, a gift

Condition: good