Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely honest service used all original example of a Model 1935 German WWII "Double Decal" helmet, with a "sanitized" Luftwaffe Eagle decal on the left side, and a "National Colors" decal on the right. 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, so finding them is somewhat rare. During the post war period, the decal was partly removed, including all of the swas (hook cross) to "sanitize" it for the market.

This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains much of the original correct smooth semi-gloss blue-gray Luftwaffe fliegerblau (flyer's blue) used on early helmets, which would later become textured. It is still well retained on the sides and skirt of the helmet, while the crown area is missing much of the paint, which has allowed the steel shell to oxidize. The interior of the shell has the paint in much better shape, showing only light wear, though there are some areas inside the dome that are missing the paint. The sanitized Luftwaffe eagle decal is retained at less than 25%, while the national colors is much better, retained at about 60%, showing overall wear. This gives the helmet a fantastic aged look that is impossible to duplicate!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 1362 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, Q64 indicating that it was manufactured by F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. in the German city of Esslingen. 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 liner split pins are still intact, and retain a good deal of the original paint, which is a slightly lighter color than the shell, so these came from the manufacturer pre-painted. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, with all eight of the original "fingers" intact and the top securing tie still present, though the tie is damaged and re-tied. The leather has a lovely chestnut brown color from age and use, and it is still quite supple, with no tearing or other major damage. It looks to have the name W. Prestch written on the inner right side. The liner band is aluminum, with square aluminum chin strap loops attached to reinforced sides. This is the last pattern before the move to galvanized steel bands, as aluminum was scarce. The left exterior of the liner band is marked 64 n.A 56, indicating that it is a size 56 liner for a size 64 shell, and there is also 56 stamped directly on the leather. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

B. & C.
BERLIN
1939

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 very early helmet.

There is a lovely original early pattern chinstrap attached to the liner, which has the correct aluminum buckle and attachment studs. The leather shows some wear, but is still soft, and all thirteen adjustment holes are present on the longer side, so it has not been cut down. It is faintly maker marked on the long section with: PAUL KLOPFER / WIEN 1939.

Overall a 100% genuine complete sanitized double decal Luftwaffe helmet with a lovely service used look, ready to display! We do not get helmets like these very often at all. 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.

The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe on August 18TH 1934, and adopted for wear by the Luftwaffe on March 1ST 1935 along with the national tri-color shield for wear on the helmet.

The first pattern national eagle was utilized until a modified second pattern eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations of June 12TH 1940 discontinued the use of the national tri-color decal and further regulations of August 28TH 1943 abolished the national eagle decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to.