A Very Good Original 1934 Early Pattern, Designed Without Insignia, WW2 Third Reich, German, Combat Fire Protection Police Service Helmet, With Comb and Detachable Leather Neck Shield. Feuerwehr/Feuerschutzpolizei

The Fire Protection Police ServiceFeuerwehr/Feuerschutzpolizei. First instituted in 1933, the service was originally voluntary up until 1943, when it was made mandatory for all German civilians, including women. The members were expected to purchase their own helmets and gear as their contribution to the war effort. In their role, members were required to interpret various communication reports regarding bomber formations flying over Germany, operate search lights, observe bomber formations, help keep order among civilians affected by bombing raids, and to utilize air raid sirens before and after attacks.

Although Prussia had incorporated its fire-fighting organisations into the Police system in 1933, it was not made universal throughout Germany until 1938 when the authorities increasingly believed that a future conflict might involve air-raids on a national scale. As a precaution, some 90 German cities were ordered to transfer their fire fighting personnel into the newly created Feuerschutzpolizei (Fire Protection Police), commanded directly by a higher police authority. Where necessary, auxiliaries (Freiwillige Feuerwehren) were recruited to supplement the numbers of the Feuerschutzpolizei, while other smaller towns and rural areas maintained both volunteer auxiliaries and the Feuerwehr. The M34 helmet was initially adopted for service in 1934, but it was only from 28 July 1936 that the police style insignia began to be worn. The detachable leather neckflap gave obvious protection to the wearer but was later deleted, as was the comb, with metal plugs fitted to fill the holes.

Members of the Luftschutzwarndienst (Luftschutz) were typically volunteers assembled into area units within cities and towns that held the highest risk of being bombed. Many population centers were divided into area “blocks” with unit leaders assigned to each individual section of a city. Volunteer teams were expected to rotate shifts and sleep in large concrete bunkers that held all the provisions and amenities of a regular fortification. These also included the immense “flak towers” built around German cities upon which anti-aircraft batteries were stationed.

On 2 April 1943 Hermann Göring mandated compulsory service in the Luftschutz for all German civilians. For the first time this order included women. Members of the Luftschutz were expected to supply their own helmets as part of the contribution to the German war effort. A variety of helmets were available for 5 Reich Marks each, but many volunteers chose to scavenge captured helmets of Czech, Polish, Dutch, French, and Russian origin.

The types M1935, M1940 and M1942 were examples of what was manufactured. During the National Socialist era, customers for these helmets were the Waffen-SS, and later the Bundeswehr and its field police in Germany. generally showing high craftsmanship

German pre war and WW2 Fire Protection Police Combat Helmet with chin strap clip bearing US patent for the chin strap (Patent : TUCK TITE USA PAT 1590400 Made in Germany) with its neck cape shield.
It was a patent exported into Germany in 1926 into German industry

Code: 26200