Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic all original example of a German WWII M35 helmet, as used by Chinese National Revolutionary Army (國民革命軍) at the time of the Sino-Japanese war of 1937-1945. Often abbreviated as the NRA, the group was the military arm of the Kuomintang (KMT, or the Chinese Nationalist Party) from 1925 until 1947. The Chinese government purchased approximately 20,000 M35 helmets between 1935 - 1936, which were then used during the early years of the Sino-Japanese war.

This is a great service used example of one of these 20,000 helmets, painted in the correct early war Apfelgrün (apple green) paint, with a stenciled on KMG Nationalist star under the right vent hole. The Chinese forces did not use decals like the Germans did. We have carefully examined the stencil and the rest of the helmet, and can find no inconsistencies with the condition and way that the insignia was applied. The rest of the paint is retained at about 60%, showing wear and oxidation from use. This has also caused the pain to darken a bit due to the oxidation of the steel. There is also a crack at the rear crown of the helmet about 2 inches long, which looks to be a stress crack and not battle damage. The stamping process that made the helmets unfortunately left a lot of residual stress in the material, which could then crack decades later.

The shell is stamped under the rear skirt with lot number 295, however there is oxidation under the left side ear area, so we are unable to read a maker or size mark on this very early helmet. We did measure it, and the shell measures about 65cm on the outside, so it is a 64cm shell. Size 64 is a nice smaller 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 of the original liner split pins are present, with the paint retained to a varying degree. They have non-magnetic heads which look to be blacked brass, or possibly zinc, and have the correct apple green paint still retained very well. As they do not oxidize like the steel, the color looks different, however we can find no evidence that they were ever replaced or removed from the helmet. This type of construction is totally correct for the 1935-1936 period.

The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of its fingers intact, however the leather itself has shrunk quite a bit, splitting the seam in the back by over an inch. It is now dark and hard from long service and then long storage in a dry environment. The original top tie is also missing, now replaced by what looks to be a shoelace of some sort. The early war issue aluminum liner band is marked on the left outer side with 64, indicating that the liner is intended for a 64 shell, though no size is given, which we have seen before on early lines of this type.. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

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

The band is the earliest pattern without reinforcements around the chin strap bails to support the chin strap, which is completely missing.

Overall a very nice 100% correct Chinese National Revolutionary Army issued German M35 Steel helmet. The period service wear on this gives it an absolutely unique look! 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.