Dutch M38 Helmet "War Booty" Wehrmacht

The Dutch M38 helmet used by the German Wehrmacht as war booty (Beutestücke) is a rare collectible from World War II. Following the Dutch surrender in May 1940, the German army seized large stocks of Dutch equipment to supplement their own supplies.

Characteristics of the M38 as War Booty

The Germans often modified these helmets for their own use. Common modifications include:

• Color: The original olive green was often repainted in typical German Feldgrau (field gray) or Dunkelgelb (dark yellow).
• Liner: While the original Dutch leather liner often remained, German chin straps or hardware were sometimes added.
• Decals: In some cases, German decals (such as the Wehrmacht eagle or Luftschutz emblems) were applied to the helmet.
• Plates: The brass "lion plate" on the front was almost always removed for German service.

Usage by German Units

These helmets were typically not issued to frontline Wehrmacht units but were instead used by:

• Luftschutz: The German air raid protection service used captured helmets on a large scale.
• Coastal Artillery: Units stationed in the Netherlands (e.g., along the Atlantic Wall) frequently used locally captured gear.
• Auxiliary Forces: Such as the Ordnungspolizei (Order Police) or security units in occupied territories.