WW2 GERMAN LATE WAR M35 LUFTSCHUTZ HELMET
This helmet first started its life as a black painted WW2 German Civil Defence Formation helmet. During the very later part of the war it was re-fitted and painted Luftschutz Blue and issued to Luftschutz Air Defence troops, this is evidenced by the the very late war erzatz (emergency) liner that, for the first time, used a plastic chinstrap which is a rarity in itself. It is little known that the Germans ere experimenting with oil and petroleum by-products and started using plastics where ever it could at the near end of the war. This is a good example of austerity measures in the German war machine.