adrian M31 Belgian collaboration helmet flemish/walloon guard WW2

**Helmcollector** · 10-20-2023, 05:46 PM

this helmet I bought recently was first used by the collaborating Belgian flemish or walloon guard in occupied Belgian (ww2) and later reissued by the Belgian police (two holes punched in the front for the lion badge and painted black).
The previous owner found a collaboration decal under the lion and tried to remove the black paint beginning from the decal but stopped as he saw that he was ruining the helmet (his story but could explain how the paint around the decal looks).
I saw a similar helmet posted under 'German helmets' here. Last picture is a similar original non-reissued helmet found on a website of a dealer.

This explanation is copied from the site of a dealer who sold a similar helmet :

The Walloon Guard (French: Garde Wallonne) was a collaborationist paramilitary formation which served as an auxiliary police in German-occupied Belgium and parts of Northern France during World War II. It was established in November 1941 with the support of the Rexist Party and was officially incorporated into the German Army (Wehrmacht) alongside the Feldgendarmerie. In contrast to the Walloon Legion, established in June 1941, which participated in fighting on the Eastern Front the Walloon Guard was used within Belgium and initially found it easier to attract volunteers because of the comparatively high salaries offered. The first battalion was raised on 17 November 1941. It was used primarily for guarding railways and military installations but also participated in the repression of the resistance and deserters from labour deportation.

The Flemish Guard (Dutch: Vlaamse Wacht) was a collaborationist paramilitary formation which served as an auxiliary police in parts of German-occupied Belgium during World War II. It was founded as an independent formation in May 1941 at the initiative of the Union of Flemish Veterans (Verbond van Vlaamsche Oudstrijders, VOS) and the Flemish National League (Vlaamsch Nationaal Verbond, VNV). Both associated with the pre-war Flemish Movement, the VNV soon emerged as the largest collaborationist faction in Flanders during the occupation. In propaganda, the Flemish Guard was depicted as the police force of a future independent Flanders. It was distinct from the Flemish Legion, formed by the VNV in July 1941, to participate in the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

The Flemish Guard was finally brought under exclusive German control in July 1944 following the Allied landings in Normandy. By the time of the Liberation of Belgium in September 1944, the Flemish Guard was withdrawn into Germany and its remaining personnel were brought in to increase the strength of the newly created 27th SS Volunteer Grenadier Division Langemarck. (Wikipedia)

**Schwerpunkt** · 10-22-2023, 11:07 AM

don't know a lot about these but hard to find in original state!

**Helmcollector** · 10-22-2023, 04:05 PM

Both Dutch M27/34 and Belgian adrians were used by these members of the Flemish and Walloon guards (for people here not familiar with the situation in Belgium : there is a Northern Dutch (Flemish = dialect of the Dutch language) and Southern Walloon, french speaking part. Always been a problem in politics etc...).
I have seen that now and then a similar helmet (Dutch or adrian) is sold with a bigger decal. In archive photos I only found the smaller decal, so maybe the bigger one is a copy...). A friend of mine recently bought a Dutch one in Ciney with a bigger decal for 40 euro, so remembering what you always say Frank :'good stuff has its price'...his purchase could be a fake one...