Czech Fire Service Helmet and Tunic - Second World War.

VINTAGE HELMET AND TUNIC OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK FIRE SERVICE - SECOND WORLD WAR ERA.

ON 15 MARCH 1939 THAT PART OF CZECHOSLOVAKIA INCORPORATED INTO THE GERMAN REICH WAS TO BE KNOWN AS THE 'PROTECTORATE OF BOHEMIA - MORAVIA' (PROTEKTORAT BOHMEN UND MAHREN). LATER, AS GOVERNOR OF BOHEMIA AND MORAVIA, ACTING 'REICHSPROTEKTOR' REINHARD HEYDRICH , WHO ARRIVED IN PRAGUE ON 27 SEPTEMBER 1941, WAS, TO ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES, MILITARY DICTATOR OF THE REGION. HIS ASSASSINATION,  PLANNED IN LONDON, WAS TO  BE CARRIED OUT BY ELEMENTS OF THE FREE CZECH FORCES IN EXILE. FOLLOWING ON THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON 27 MAY 1942 (DURING WHICH HEYDRICH WAS FATALLY INJURED), THOSE INVOLVED IN THE AMBUSH TOOK REFUGE IN THE CRYPT OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCH OF SS CYRIL AND METHODIUS IN RESSLOVA STREET, PRAGUE. THE LOCATION WAS BETRAYED BY A TRAITOR IN THE RESISTANCE MOVEMENT, AND THE CHURCH WAS SURROUNDED BY HUNDREDS OF SS MEN. THUS BEGAN ONE OF THE SADDEST AND MOST POIGNANT CHAPTERS IN THE HISTORY OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK FIRE SERVICE. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS BY THE SS TO DISLODGE THE CZECHS BY FRONTAL ASSAULTS, THE FIRE BRIGADE WAS ORDERED, UNDER PAIN OF TERRIBLE RETRIBUTION TO THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO ATTEND THE SCENE. THIS CULMINATED IN THE FLOODING OF THE CRYPT WITH FIRE HOSES AND THE REMAINING DEFENDERS TAKING THEIR OWN LIVES.

THIS SET CONSISTS OF THE CZECH MODEL 1929 FIRE HELMET. WITH 'SILVER' COMB, IT HAS THE GILTED HELMET PLATE SHOWING THE ARMS OF BOHEMIA. ITS HEADLINER AND CHINSTRAP ARE INTACT. THE SIZE IS NOT STATED. THE NAVY-BLUE TUNIC HAS RED PIPING AND RED GORGETS ON THE COLLAR. IT HAS 7 LARGE AND 10 SMALL BRASS BUTTONS INSCRIBED WITH HELMET AND CROSSED FIRE AXES. OVERALL, IT IS IN GOOD CONDITION FOR ITS AGE, WITH SOME MINOR MOTH 'NIPS' HERE AND THERE. PLEASE NOTE, THE HEAD IS USED FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY, AND IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SALE.

PAYPAL ONLY, PAYMENT WITHIN 7 DAYS. ITEMS ARE SENT REGISTERED POST ONLY. NO RESPONSIBILITY ACCEPTED FOR ITEMS LOST IN POST, OR FOR ANY USE TO WHICH ITEMS, WHICH ARE SOLD AS STATIC DISPLAY PIECES, ARE SUBSEQUENTLY PUT.

REGISTERED POST: IRELAND/NI: €14        GB     €37        REST OF WORLD       €44

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