Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic all original example Model 1935 German WWII "double decal" helmet with a desirable early Luftwaffe "Droop Tail Straight Leg" Eagle decal on the left side, and a "National Colors" decal on the right. The use of the second decal was discontinued in 1940, and in 1943 it was ordered that helmets with the national colors have them removed, so finding a helmet with both still mostly intact is a real treat!

This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains 75% of the original correct smooth semi-gloss blue-gray Luftwaffe fliegerblau (flyer's blue) used on early helmets, which would later become textured, and is in very good condition overall. There are some scuffs and scrapes consistent with service wear, as well as a bit of wear through, but there is no major damage except for two dents right where the National Colors decal is. These look like maybe hits from a ball peen hammer, though it is possible that they are from small arms fire at a long distance. Due to this the national colors decal is only retained at about 30%, with much having flaked away. The "Droop Tail" Luftwaffe Eagle decal is in much better condition, retained at over 80%, showing age toning, scratches, and checking. We have compared it to known "straight leg" examples, and it is a match, with a great aged look.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped, 4197 and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer's code and size, ET66 indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerk of Thale, located in the Harz district in Saxony, Germany. Size 66 is a rather large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 5/8. Size 66 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

All three liner split pins are still intact, however they all look to have zinc plated steel heads, which results in the paint flaking off. They then look to have been repainted with thick enamel at some point, probably to cover the shine, and this is well retained on one pin, while the other two show varying levels of paint loss. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present and supple, with the original top tie still in place. The leather has matured to a lovely chestnut brown color, and is in very good condition, still supple with minimal tearing. The liner band is aluminum, with square aluminum chin strap loops attached without any side reinforcements, which explains why the band is bent and even completely broken through right by the left chin strap loop. Later Pre-war examples would have a double layer of aluminum on the side to prevent bending and breaking, and then the material would be switched to galvanized steel to save aluminum for Aircraft use.

The left exterior of the liner band is marked 66, indicating that it is for a size 66 shell, but there is no liner size marking we can see, correct for these very early issue liners. As there is no size marking on the leather, there is no way to tell whether this is a 58 or 59 cm liner. The right side displays the full manufacture information, with a very early date:

D.R.P.
SCHUBERTH-WERKE A-G
BRAUNSCHWEIG
1936

This is exactly the right period and type of liner for this very early helmet, made during the first year or so of production. The original chinstrap is unfortunately completely missing.

Overall a fantastic totally correct 100% genuine double decal Luftwaffe M35 helmet with a "snake leg droop tail" eagle decal, ready to display! We do not get helmets like these very often at all. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time!

The first "modern" steel helmets were introduced by the French army in early 1915 and were shortly followed by the British army later that year. With plans on the drawing board, experimental helmets in the field, ("Gaede" helmet), and some captured French and British helmets the German army began tests for their own steel helmet at the Kummersdorf Proving Grounds in November, and in the field in December 1915. An acceptable pattern was developed and approved and production began at Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, (Iron and Foundry Works), in the spring of 1916.

These first modern M16 helmets evolved into the M18 helmets by the end of WWI. The M16 and M18 helmets remained in usage through-out the Weimar Reichswehr, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935.

The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe on August 18TH 1934, and adopted for wear by the Luftwaffe on March 1ST 1935 along with the national tri-color shield for wear on the helmet.

The first pattern national eagle was utilized until a modified second pattern eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations of June 12TH 1940 discontinued the use of the national tri-color decal and further regulations of August 28TH 1943 abolished the national eagle decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to.