WWII BULGARIAN GERMAN Luftschutz Gladiator helmet 3pcs Perfect decal

This German Ally's Luftschutz helmet, the so-called "Gladiator" type, was used in the Bulgarian Royal army during the WWII. These helmets have been produced in Germany by order of Bulgarian army and designed to be used in the Bulgarian army unit called "Protivovazdushna i Himimicheska Zashtita" - Anti Air and Chemical Defense. Few of them used also in Bulgarian police. This one was probably intended for the police first because it has 3 holes at front which matches the police badge cockades that should stand on.

The helmet is of 3 pieces construction, has two groups of seven ventilation holes to either side of the crown. Retains its original green paint (see condition on the pictures provided below) , unfortunately it received spot of rust too. An ORIGINAL DECAL is also preserved on almost 90% ! The decal represents a shield, the left part in the National colors /white-green-red/, the right part in black-white-black. In the center of the shield there is a smaller red shield with a standing lion inside. On the upper part in a dark blue line are 4 Cyrillic letters abbreviation of the Anti air corps name.

Interior of the helmet keeps a three pad, WWI style, leather liner with each pad having two fingers. On one of them you can read the hand-written name of the soldier who used the helmet in WWII - "Kiro P. Kovachev" and the name of his native village. Helmet completes with blackened leather chinstraps (one of buckle clasp is missing).
Very good condition leather parts. The reverse interior neck guard is stamped with Germans producer's mark "R.L. 2 38/28".
Liner in size 58 - 59 / L .

Helmet in authentic VG condition!

History notes: Formed in late 1932 the Deutsches Luftschutzverband, German Air Protection League, was a voluntary organization designed to provide Civil air raid protection in large civilian centers. Shortly after Hitler ascended to power the Deutsches Luftschutzverband was restructured and placed under the supervision of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium - National Air Ministry under the control of Hermann GÑ†ring.

On April 29TH 1933 the Deutsches Luftschutzverband was renamed RLB, Reichs Luftschutz Bund - National Air Raid Protection League and was given the status of an official National organization tasked with all aspects of Civil Air Raid defense. The RLB remained a voluntary organization with a small personnel of paid, full-time uniformed officials to be in charge of the organization until June 1935 when obligatory service was introduced. Only the most basic uniform and equipment items were supplied to the personnel, with the rest having to be bought personally by members. On September 26TH 1938 a specific helmet for RLB personnel was introduced that incorporated a raised horizontal "bead" between the visors and crown. These helmets commonly called the "Gladiator" style were supplemented with M35, M40 and M42 helmets that also incorporated a raised horizontal "bead" between the visors and crown.