Original Item: Only One Available. This fantastic double decal Police helmet is a great example of pre-war (circa 1939-1940) M35 helmet that continued to be used when WWII broke out a year or so later. 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 retains it's original feldgrau gray green paint, and has the Double Decals of the NSDAP Civic Police! Additionally, it suffered some real damage from battle, showing a dent on the top, as well as what to be bullet strikes on the bottom left of the front visor, as well as one on the upper left dome, which hit the underside, leaving a large dent and crack. We assume the helmet was most likely not being worn when this occurred, as the liner does not show any major staining, which would have definitely happened had the helmet been on the owners head at the time.

This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains much of its original paint but does show wear and use, so the paint is probably in the 75% range. It is not quite as green as pre-war Apfel-grün (apple green), but definitely not as dark as the wartime Panzergrau (armored gray). It looks to have been made during the transitional period. The 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 60%, with some large chips and overall wear, while the shield is close to 80%. Both have a lovely yellowed color from the enamel top coat aging over the decades.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 5012 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, SE64 indicating that it was manufactured by Sächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G. of Lauter, Germany. 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 liner retaining pins are intact, with exterior paint well retained on all, with just a bit of oxidation. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, which is in very good condition, showing moderate use. All 8 fingers are intact, with an original leather top tie string, and overall it shows a dark brown color from age and use. The leather has shrunk a bit and feels a bit stiff, but there is no tearing or splitting we can see. The later war issue galvanized steel liner band is marked on the left outer side with 64 n.A. / 56, indicating that the liner band is a size 56, intended for a 64 shell. The right side has the maker information stamped, which is a bit dirty but still mostly legible without cleaning:

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

There is an early war chinstrap with aluminum fittings attached to the liner, however it is broken and definitely in "relic" condition, with the leather now stiff and cracked. It is very delicate, and will probably crumble into additional pieces sometime soon.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine rare M35 Double Decal NSDAP Civic Police Combat helmet with some great battle damage, correct in every way! M35 helmets of this quality are always the hardest to find on the market. 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.