WW2 GERMAN M40 FIRE PROTECTION POLICE HELMET
History: On June 17th1936, 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. 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 to bring about uniformity in dress for all police through-out the country. The new dress regulations included an attempt to standardize the helmets of the Feuerschutzpolizei, (Fire Protection Police). Standardization of the helmets was never completely achieved although the black satin finish and the decals as introduced on July 28th1936 were pretty much universally worn through-out the Feuerschutzpolizei.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This helmet was one that was issued to the Fire Protection Police and is identified by its Silver Tone Wreathed Police Eagle Decal. The stamped sheet steel construction, civic M34 "square dip" style helmet retains most of its original black satin finish paint. The left side of the helmet has a, Silver bordered, black based, police decal with the second pattern, Silver, wreathed police eagle as introduced on July 28th 1936 which is retained 90%. The right side of the helmet has a party shield decal which is retained about 80%. The helmet has two separate, groups of seven, "salt & pepper" ventilation holes positioned on each side of the crown. All four of the flat headed liner retaining rivets are intact. The interior of the helmet has a M31 civic style, light tan leather liner. Liner is complete. Original chinstrap is complete. The interior crown has the addition of leather crown lining panel with internal padding. The top of the helmet has a provision for adding the Fire Fighters reinforcement comb to it and still has the original factory plugs. Nice helmet.