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At
least three different styles of insignia can be found on all DRK
helmets regardless of their model or type.
The first two styles take the form of decals that incorporate
the National Socialist DRK insignia superimposed on a white shield.
Of these two styles, one type of decal has a pointed bottom
while the other is rounded at the base of the shield1.
The third style is a large stenciled version of the DRK
insignia painted directly to one or both sides of a helmet.
The latter of the three styles is scarce compared to the
decal types. The use of stenciled designs has been verified by wartime photographs that
show DRK rescue workers removing German civilians from bomb damaged
buildings on 7 July 1943.
Where
decals are concerned, it is important to note that most DRK helmets
received only one decal placed on the left side of the helmet. However, some helmets have been observed where a second decal
has been placed on the right side as well.
If a second decal is encountered it is almost always the
tricolored decal bearing the German national colors of black, white,
and red. The use of two
decals is usually attributed to an early DRK practice although this
has not been fully established from wartime records or written
regulations.
Bearing
in mind that many DRK helmets never received any form of insignia at
all, collectors should be aware that many civic and beaded model
helmets without any decals may have been used by the German Red
Cross. Those with the highest probability of being DRK helmets are
those with medium or dark gray paint finishes.
Collectors should also be advised that both decal types
mentioned here have
been copied and reproduced extensively over the past many years.
However, the quality of these reproductions is inferior in all cases
to original examples.
Notes:
1 Of
the two decals most encountered on wartime helmets, the round bottom
variety is considered by some collectors as a high quality
reproduction dating back to the 1950's or 1960’s.
However, none of these accusations have ever been fully
substantiated with any level of credibility. The notion that
the round bottomed decal is a reproduction stems from the suggestion
that the
round bottom is an inherent graphic error (or historical
mistake) within the reproduction design. This suggestion has
fueled an ongoing debate and many collectors' myths regarding this
style of decal. As a result, pointed bottom decals are
naturally more favored by some collectors based on the
notion that they are probably more original than round bottomed
decals.
Even so, it must be pointed out that DRK decals with pointed bottoms have also been reproduced.
Therefore, the discussion of one style being more original than
another is clearly unfounded. Original round bottom DRK
decals clearly existed and are original to the time period
regardless of the misleading debate on this issue. |
