Ref: 2832 - Post WW2 German Police/ Fire Service Helmet.

A Police/ Fire Service post WW2 German Helmet. The Helmet is a shell only as the liner is lacking.

Marked DIN 14940 Q/O stamped on the underside of the shell brim at the rear. 'DIN' is the German Standards Institute and DIN 14940 was the standard for German fire helmets in use from 1962 until 1997.

DIN 14940 was issued as a draft standard, designated 'DIN V 14940', in 1956. It was approved in 1962 but compulsory marking of helmets was not required until 1981. However, most manufacturers marked their shells voluntarily. Helmets manufactured between 1956 and 1962 could only be marked with ‘DIN’ with a straight line above and below the three letters, indicating that they complied with a draft standard. The standard colour for German fire helmets until around 1970 was black, although Bavaria opted for red during the 1960's. From around 1970 onwards, the more familiar pale yellow luminous paint finish took over. Also, up to around 1970, most shells were steel. After about 1970 there was a universal shift to aluminium.

There is a bit of a 'grey area' between 1945 and 1956. However, all German fire helmets of post WW2 manufacture are hybrids and by that I mean they have the basic shape of an M35/M40 with the twin pepperpot vents of an M34. Police and fire helmets of this style did exist prior to 1945. However, they are quite rare, by far the most common type being the M34 ‘square dip’ pattern (German Standards Institute in August 2007).