Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original example of a German Model 40 Steel helmet, as issued to the Wehrmacht Heer (army). This stamped sheet steel construction helmet has a great service used look to the textured feldgrau (field gray) paint on the exterior, showing overall wear and some areas of paint loss and oxidation, giving it a great "been there" look! The interior paint is a better retained, showing just a few areas of oxidation. It does look like this helmet was probably repainted during the war, as the interior is textured too, which would often be left smooth from the factory. There is no decal on this helmet, however later in the war these were often omitted due to rushed production, an if the helmet was refinished, it also would often not have a decal applied. It has a great used look that is impossible to duplicate!

Due to the textured paint on the interior, the original lot code under the rear skirt is completely covered up, as is part of the manufacturer code and size. We can however see a relatively clear 64 marking, indicating a shell size of 64cm. This 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 original liner retaining pins are intact, and retain the original paint to a varying degree. The front two are steel, and have had the paint chip off in areas, while the rear pin has a plated head, so it is shiny and has had most of the paint flake off. We assume when it was repainted during the war that whatever was on hand was used, common for the late war period. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all 8 "fingers" intact with the intact top tie threaded through all. The leather is in very good condition, showing light to moderate use, and there is no major staining or other issues. The outer side of the mid war 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, and the leather itself is stamped with 57 in a circle as well. The outer left side of the band still has clear maker markings:-

B. & C.
LITZMANNSTADT
1943

This liner was made by Biedermann & Czarnikow, a German company who 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. There are portions of a chinstrap attached to the hanger loops, however the longer side has only 3 size adjustment holes present, while the buckle side is missing the entire buckle. Both are retained by steel studs.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine complete M40 No Decal Heer Army helmet, with a service used look! M40 helmets of this quality are always the hard 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.