Original WW2 German Wehrmachtgefolge Volkssturm Nazi Partisan M38 LSW Stahlhelm

Up for sale is an Original WW2 German Wehrmachtgefolge - Volkssturm "Nazi Partisan" Ersatz M38 (LSW) 3-Piece "Gladiator" Stahlhelm. A fascinating late war example of a repurposed M38 Civic Stahlhelm originally designated for Non-Combatant Civil Defense Volunteers, the roster for which was largely middle-aged men and housewives representing the local neighborhood Civil Air Patrol Wardens --acting in a purely observational/volunteering capacity; primarily charged with signaling local warning systems to alert civilians when they were being bombed, as well as providing additional disaster relief assistance (in coordination with efforts of the local police and fire departments) in the bombed-out aftermath as well.

Essentially, these local'Luftschultz' personnel were not unlike the Civil Defense (CD) Forces wearing those white Brodie-esque Helmets in our own country; yelling satirized catchphrases like turn out that light! -- who were either over the age limit for active military service or exempt from such conscription; similar to the Air Raid Precautions Air Raid Warning Protection Service organization in the United Kingdom.

Although the M38 "Gladiator" Stahlhelm is generally assumed to only represent these'Luftschutz' Non-Combatant Air Raid Warden Helmets, bear in mind this particular "Gladiator" Example during its actual "Wartime Service Life" was never one of these. When the steel pot was produced at the factory it may have been intended to serve this purpose, but it never had the formal LSW Swasti Decal applied to it and from the moment it was outfitted with its ersatz liner/chinstrap and issued to a leftover elderly/housewife/child soldier, from that very moment of it's inception as effective piece of wartime hardware, it was always a.

Curiously enough, the liner is constructed of recycled textile cloth that features a flowery design, and appears to be modeled after the WW1-Era M16/17 Stahlhelm Liners with three padded bags surrounded/fixed together by a central drawstring that's tied in to place, as opposed to the more standard Civic Liners of the period that you see in the "proper" LSW M38s. And comparing the paint job of this helmet with other various WW2-era Stahlhelms in our private collection, the charcoal grey/black paint finish on this helmet matches exactly the very same finish found on one of our late war M42 Wehrmacht Stahlhelms produced in 1944. We bought this piece from a Lincoln Merchant we know who's got a couple sales booths out at the Aardvark Antique Mall. And she's the one who bought it from the Veteran's Estate directly. German Volkssturm carrying Panzerfausts on Parade in Berlin, 1944': an actual wartime German photo depicting several of these.

"Nazi Partisans", wearing a makeshift uniforms of the late war (ersatz) "Deutscher Volkssturm Wehrmacht". Note the helmets they've got on here-- M38 (LSW) Stahlhelms sans the decal, exactly like this one here. Overall this item is in excellent used condition; exhibiting only minor wear and some natural aging. OTM guarantees this item to be 100% Authentic and Absolutely Original.

The item "Original WW2 German Wehrmachtgefolge Volkssturm Nazi Partisan M38 LSW Stahlhelm" is in sale since Wednesday, September 26, 2018. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\Germany\Hats & Helmets".

The seller is "o-townmerch" and is located in Omaha, Nebraska. This item can be shipped worldwide.

Modified Item: No
Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany