Original Item: Only One Available. This lovely service worn condition double decal Police helmet is a good example of a late war M42 helmet that was used in WWII. Polizei helmets like this were used by civil police as well as by paramilitary police forces who were deployed as combatants during the war. It still retains the original panzergrau blue gray paint, and has the Double Decals of the NSDAP Civic Police! It also has some period correct chicken wire wrapped around it, though we suspect it was added later, as we do not see the usual wear patterns from the wire that one would expect.

The helmet definitely looks to have seen heavy use, and possibly been out in the elements for a while, which has led to the liner leather degrading quite a bit, as well as the leather on the chin strap. The steel shell shows overall oxidation and other damage related to water and weather exposure. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains much of its original paint, but shows scattered oxidation overall, with some on the interior and fittings as well. This helmet features genuine double decals of the NSDAP civic eagle on the left side and the swas on a red shield on the right. The Civic eagle is retained at around 40%, showing a lot of overall wear, while the shield is close to 80%. Both show oxidation and chipping due to weathering and age.

The shell is stamped over the left ear with E.F.66, indicating that Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda, Germany manufactured it. It is also stamped with heat lot number 0839 under the rear skirt. 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.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, with exterior paint well retained on two, while the third has rust on most of the top. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 liner, however the leather is torn and in "relic" condition, showing much of the underlying felt padding. The left side of the band is marked 66 n.A. / 58, indicating a size 58 liner for a size 66 shell, however due to oxidation we cannot read the maker markings on the other side of the galvanized steel liner band.

The chinstrap is present but in very delicate condition, with a tear through it that is hanging on by a thread, and will probably tear all the way through very soon. The rest of the leather is stiff and tried out, and the hardware is oxidized as expected.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine service used rare M42 Double Decal NSDAP Civic Police Combat helmet! 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, replacing the multi-piece riveted vent with one stamped directly into the steel. Later, in 1942 the rolled steel rim was removed from the pattern to further expedite production.