Police M40 Helmet – Marked ET66 – Double Decal Luftschutz Combat Shell

An exceptionally rare and intriguing German M42 steel helmet in a hard-to-find police configuration. This specimen utilizes a full-spec combat shell originally intended for Air Raid Protection (Luftschutz) and later issued to police units. The helmet retains two original decals: the police eagle shield and the party shield. The interior side features clear factory markings: maker/size code ET66 (Eisenhüttenwerke Thale, size 66) and the heat lot number 1089 stamped on the rear rim. The helmet includes remnants of the original leather liner. The exterior shows an authentic dark blue finish with natural patina and field wear, making it a standout piece for any serious collection of German headgear.

Historical Context:
M40 helmets from the Thale factory (ET) featuring double decals and used by Luftschutzpolizei units are highly sought after by collectors. The allocation of frontline-grade combat shells to police-affiliated air defense organizations was typical for units protecting key industrial and administrative centers of the Reich. The presence of both original shields on a combat shell suggests an early-issue or high-priority service history.