History

Following the First World War, the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rotes Kreuz, DRK) was threatened in its existence by the Treaty of Versailles, since the organisation was mainly focused on preparing its members for war and military-related medical service. This resulted in the DRK switching focus to social welfare activities during the time of the Weimar Republic.

The stipulations enforced by the Treaty of Versailles were declared null and void following the NSDAP’s consolidation of power in 1933. The new Reich Minister of the Interior, Wilhelm Frick, an NSDAP member, ensured that the DRK would be ready to support all of the Third Reich’s future military affairs and political ideologies. In 1938, the DRK was merged with the Ministry of the Interior’s Social Welfare Organisation, officially becoming an organisation under NSDAP oversight. The DRK also had ties to the SS, mainly due to high-ranking medical professionals serving in both organisations simultaneously.

The main type of helmet worn by DRK personnel during the Third Reich was the M34 civil helmet. There are also rare examples of the M40 Luftschutz “gladiator” style helmets, M44 helmets, and transitional helmets that were worn by DRK personnel and feature the DRK decal. All of these helmets were permitted for wear while personnel were performing search and rescue duties, were in areas where bombs had been dropped, or were working in combat zones.

All steel helmets were produced in set shell and liner sizes. The helmet shells were mass-produced in five sizes, including 60, 62, 64, 66, and 68, and their respective liner sizes were 52-53, 54-55, 56-57, 58-59, and 60-61. The shell sizes were often stamped on the inside of the helmet itself, frequently on the back of the helmet near the neck-guard.

The M34 helmets generally have a smooth grey paint finish on the exterior shell surfaces and may have between zero and two decals.

Generally, the DRK helmets have a left side decal in the form of the 2nd pattern national eagle emblem on a white shield with a pointed or rounded bottom. There is a vigorous debate within the collecting community as to whether the shields with a rounded bottom are originals or reproductions. The helmets with a rounded shield should be dealt with on a case by case basis. When present, the right decal features a shield with the national tri-colour pattern, black-white-red. The decals tend to be located beneath the air vents. By the end of the Second World War, the DRK helmets were being produced without any decals at all.

These helmets have four air vents, two on each side, that are composed of seven smaller holes grouped together.

The DRK helmets utilize the civic leather liner and chinstrap.

The helmets worn by DRK personnel were very similar to those worn by field medics. The main difference between these helmet types is that field medic helmets tend to have an additional DRK design painted onto the helmets. The DRK was meant to work as a protective measure enabling the easy identification of non-combatant medics.