Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely example of a German WWII M40 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 at some point the exterior was repainted, giving it a lovely textured finish. The decals may have been re-applied at that point, or may have been covered / cleaned off, which definitely looks to have happened with the eagle. It saw additional service since the repaint, which has worn the paint off around the bottom rim, one of the first places for it to wear away.

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. However, they are definitely both worn. The National Colors is probably retained at only 40%, while the Heer Army Eagle is probably retained at 60%, with some discoloration due to aging of the enamel. It looks to have been cleaned off several times, which has worn it down a bit. Definitely lots of history here!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is lot number stamped 22179 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size E.F.66, indicating that it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda, Germany. Later in the war, the maker mark would be moved to the rear of the helmet. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 3/8. Size 66 shells are much harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector. Additionally, the rear of the helmet is named to Schober on the rear right interior.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, however they look to be zinc plated, which has oxidized and caused most of the paint to flake off all three. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, with all eight of the original fingers intact, though the top tie is missing. The leather is still soft and supple, and has a lovely light brown color, showing a bit of staining around the edge, and is marked with the size 59 on one of the fingers. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band is marked 66 n.A / 59, indicating that it is a size 59 liner for a size 66 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

B. & C.
BERLIN
1940

This liner was made by Biedermann & Czarnikow, a German company who later moved operations to Łódź in occupied Poland to take advantage of the slave labor in the ghetto located there. NSDAP authorities renamed Łódź to Litzmannstadt in honor of the German General Karl Litzmann who had captured the city in the previous World War. This is exactly the right period and type of liner for this helmet, and we see no evidence that it was ever changed out. The chinstrap is unfortunately completely missing.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine M40 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.