1. The M40 civil air protection helmet

Above you can see a civilian black helmet of the M40 type. These helmets were produced for the air protection services in the Netherlands. After May 15, 1940, the production of helmets for the Dutch army ceased. The remaining helmets were then converted into LBD (Air Protection Service) helmets. Interestingly, a lively trade in helmets emerged. For example, Dutch soldiers were urged to sell their helmets through newspaper advertisements after the surrender. These helmets were then privately sold for air protection purposes. This specific helmet was found in a house on Voorstraat and has the name “v. Leeuwen” inscribed in it. As mentioned before, these helmets were primarily used by the LBD, but later in the war, they were also used by members of the Dutch Resistance, known as the Binnenlandse Strijdkrachten¹.

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