Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting original example of a German Model 35 Steel helmet, as issued to the Kriegsmarine (Navy). This stamped sheet steel construction helmet looks to originally have been early war Apfel-grün (apple green) paint job, but at some point was overpainted with a red primer coat, followed by Kriegsmarine "Battleship Gray", as would have been used on helmets that saw service onboard ocean going vessels. It was then painted again with a dark green, possibly post war, but after this suffered a lot of wear as well as some possible cleaning to uncover the original paint.

It now shows a very interesting mottled look, with a lot of the red primer coat exposed, and some areas where the original apple green is visible. The left side of the helmet was cleaned to expose the decal, which still shows traces of the original "arsenic gold" color, only used on Kriegsmarine decals. The interior still shows a lot of the "Battleship Gray" finish, though there is flaking and oxidation present overall. Definitely a very interesting m35 helmet with a long service history!

The interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, ET60 indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerk AG of Thale, located in the Harz district in Saxony, Germany. The heat lot number under the rear skirt is unfortunately illegible due to oxidation. Size 60 is a small size that can accommodate liners from 52cm to 53cm or US 6 1/2 to 6 3/8. Shells this small are extremely rare, and we have only had a handful, even when compared to the extra large size 68.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, and are the correct very early war style type with nickel silver heads. They have however lost all of the original paint, and show a lovely lightly oxidized patina. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner present, with all eight fingers still present, with the top tie string missing. The leather is in very good condition, and looks to have seen very little use, showing some flaking and tearing around the edge. The late war issue galvanized steel liner band is marked on the left outer side with 60 nA / 53, indicating that the liner is a size 53, intended for a 60 shell. The right side displays the manufacturing information, as well as a date, which is mostly clear.

SCHUBERTH-WERKE K.-G.
D. R. P.
1943
BRAUNSCHWEIG

There is no chinstrap included with this helmet.

Overall a great service used M35 Single Decal Kriegsmarine Navy helmet, with a very colorful history and a great look! M35 helmets of this quality are always the hardest to find on the market. 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.

In 1934 tests began on an improved Stahlhelm, whose design was a development of World War I models. The Eisenhüttenwerke company of Thale carried out prototype design and testing, with Dr. Friedrich Schwerd once again taking a hand.

The new helmet was pressed from sheets of molybdenum steel in several stages. The size of the flared visor and skirt was reduced, and the large projecting lugs for the obsolete armor shield were eliminated. The ventilator holes were retained, but were set in smaller hollow rivets mounted to the helmet's shell. The edges of the shell were rolled over, creating a smooth edge along the helmet. Finally, a completely new leather suspension, or liner, was incorporated that greatly improved the helmet's safety, adjustability, and comfort for each wearer. These improvements made the new M1935 helmet lighter, more compact, and more comfortable to wear than the previous designs.

The Army's Supreme Command officially accepted the new helmet on June 25, 1935 and it was intended to replace all other helmets in service.

The M1935 design was slightly modified in 1940 to simplify its construction, the manufacturing process now incorporating more automated stamping methods. The principal change was to stamp the ventilator hole mounts directly onto the shell, rather than utilizing separate fittings. In other respects, the M1940 helmet was identical to the M1935. The Germans still referred to the M1940 as the M1935, while the M1940 designation were given by collectors.

The last wartime upgrade to the standard helmet took place on 6 July 1942 at the request of the Army High Command. The rolled edge found on M1935 and M1940 helmets was discontinued as a measure of economy. On 1 August 1942 the first M1942 helmets were placed into production, and this was the model produced until late in the war, when most factories were captured or stood idle due to material shortages.