Helmet Description

Very little photographic evidence has been documented to clearly indicate the style of helmet most often worn by members of the Bahnschutzpolizei.  Of the surviving photographs studied, it would appear that relatively few helmets were used by this small and very specialized police force. 

Some evidence indicates that the Bahnschutzpolizei were issued surplus combat style helmets including the World War I M1917 and M1918 models¹.  Speculation holds that the majority of helmets issued by the Bahnschutzpolizei probably retained their World War I field gray paint scheme without any decals or insignia.

However a few surviving helmets reveal that Bahnschutzpolizei members occasionally painted and decaled some helmets.  These were generally painted a medium to light blue-gray color over their former World War I paint schemes to match blue-gray civilian style uniforms.  The paint job was usually done by hand.  When decals were applied, they consisted of an elongated National Socialist Party decal on the right side with the Reichsbahn winged wheel insignia on the left.  In other cases it has been noted that decals were sometimes placed on opposite sides from that already described.

Notes:

¹ The heavy combat style helmet was probably favored over light weight police helmets due to the needed protection while working around heavy machinery.  Surplus World War I model helmets were often used for this purpose within paramilitary organizations that were not authorized regular use of standard and more modern helmets.

The M1918 Helmet with Reichsbahn Decal (left side)

The M1918 Helmet with Elongated Party Decal (right side)

Reichsbahn Main

Helmet Types

Helmet Insignia

Bahnschutzpolizei

Feldpolizei-Wehrmacht

Feuerwehren

Feuerschutzpolizei (FSP)

Gendarmerie

Hilfspolizeien

Kasernierte Polizei

Landespolizei-Ordnungspolizei

Landespolizeigruppe General Göring

Luftschutzpolizei (LSP)

Schutzpolizei (Schupo)

Technische Nothilfe (TeNo)

Wasserschutzpolizei