Dutch M38 Helmet

A post-war reissued Dutch M38 helmet from the 1947-1959 period is a collector's item originating from the so-called "harde bijstand" (the mobile units of the police or the Royal Marechaussee).

Below are the key characteristics of these helmets:

• Reuse: Following World War II, there was a shortage of equipment. Old army helmets were repainted black or dark gray for civil and police use.
• Liner: The original 1939/1940 army liners were often replaced during this period with a post-war model.
• Helmet Plate: While the military version featured a brass lion plate, this was often removed or painted over for police use. Sometimes the outlines of the original plate are still visible.
• Users: This specific configuration was used by the Bijstandseenheden (Support Units) of the National Police and Municipal Police for public order maintenance before the M53 (the 'troop helmet' based on the American M1 model) became the standard.