Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original Model 1940 German WWII "double decal" helmet with a Luftwaffe Eagle decal on the left side, and an "NSDAP Shield" on the right side, as used on Luftwaffe Police helmets. We do not see any signs that it ever had other decals installed, and this is the first example that we have had with decals in this configuration! 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 intact is a real treat!

This stamped sheet steel construction helmet shows light to moderate wear, and still retains about 90% of the original lightly textured blue-gray Luftwaffe fliegerblau (flyer's blue) paint job. It does not show evidence of having been repainted at any time. There are no major dents or other issues, and the areas without paint show a lovely lightly brown oxidized patina. The 2nd pattern Luftwaffe Eagle decal is retained at about 90%, with a few small scratches, and it has a lovely antiqued color due to the fading of the enamel top coat. The Party Shield Police decal is retained at about 75%, with some areas chipped away and visible crazing and checking in the enamel top coat.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 4884 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, Q64 indicating that it was manufactured by F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. in the German city of Esslingen. Size 64 is a nice medium size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/8. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

All three original liner retaining pins are intact and in good condition, with the smooth Luftwaffe blue gray paint well retained. The interior of the helmet still has its original leather liner with all 8 fingers intact, though the top tie is missing. The leather has a lovely color and worn look, with some flaking around the edge. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that this is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date, which are very faint:

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

The original chin strap is present and complete, and has an early war aluminum buckle and studs. There is some degradation to the leather, which is a bit dried out, and shows cracking in the finish. It still has a complete manufacturer name and date on the end of the longer side: G. SCHIELE / LOBURG / 1940, which is right in period for this configuration.

Overall a very nice totally correct 100% genuine double decal Luftwaffe Police helmet, ready to display! We do not get helmets like these very often at all.

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.