Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a German WWII M35 helmet, as issued to the Heer (Army), with very desirable "Double Decals". This stamped sheet steel construction helmet definitely looks to have seen long service during the war, and was originally painted with early war Apfel-grün (apple green) paint. It was then field repainted with a heavily textured coat of Panzergrau (armor gray) on the exterior, and then had this removed from the decals, so that they were still visible.

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. The decal on this helmet however escaped that fate, so it still has both decals, which is definitely a rarity and highly desirable! It looks to have seen long service after the repaint, and shows chipping and paint loss overall, as well as wear to the decals. Some of this goes down to the steel of the helmet, which shows oxidation in areas. There is also a large V scratched into the top of the helmet, for VICTORY, and there is a small V VICTORY pin attached to one of the chin strap loops. This helmet was almost certainly brought home by a USGI after the war and displayed with pride!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 380, however we were not able to find any legible markings over this or under the left side. The paint is a bit bubbled and there is oxidation, so most likely the marking has been obscured. We measured the shell and it is definitely a size 62. This is a nice smaller size that can accommodate liners from 54cm to 55cm or US 6 3/4 to 6 5/8.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, and retain the textured overpainted camouflage very well, with almost no flaking. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, with all eight of the original fingers at least partly intact, and an intact top tie string. The leather has definitely gotten quite dark, and there is tearing between some of the fingers, with the tips of two torn away. There is flaking of the leather around the rim. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 62 n.A / 54, indicating that this is a size 54 liner for a size 62 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

SCHUBERTH - WERK K.-G.
D.R.P.
1940
BRAUNSCHWEIG

This is right in period for an M35 double decal helmet. There are short sections of the chinstrap still present on both of the chin strap loops.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine M35 Double Decal Heer Army helmet with loads of history! It looks great, with a fantastic patina! 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.

More than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed.