Original Item: Only One Available. The SS (Schutzstaffel - 'Protection Squadron') was originally formed in 1925, ostensibly to act as a small, loyal bodyguard unit to protect the Führer, Adolf H. Under the direction of the Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler, the SS grew to be the most ruthless and feared organization of the 20th century. They were the vanguard of NSDAP and eventually controlled nearly every function of German life and much of Occupied Europe.

When WWII began in earnest, the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT) (SS Dispositional Troops) became the Waffen-SS ("Armed SS"), an official military branch of the SS organization. Its formations included men from NSDAP ruled Germany, along with volunteers and conscripts from both occupied and unoccupied lands. They were issued the same type field gear as the regular Heer Army, however they were marked specifically for the SS.

This is an incredible ultra rare all original service worn example of a Model 1935 M35 German WWII helmet, with a worn single ᛋᛋ Doppelte Siegrune (Double Sig/Victory Rune) decal on the right side of the helmet. This was the symbol used by the SS throughout their existence, and many of the SS units also utilized the old Germanic Runic alphabets as a source of insignia. Earlier in the war the Waffen SS used two decals, with an NSDAP party shield on the left side, however this was dropped as the war progressed. Unlike the other armed branches, the Waffen SS had their branch insignia on the right side of the helmet.

This stamped sheet steel construction helmet was originally painted with an early war Apfel-grün (Apple Green) smooth finish, however it definitely looks like that paint became worn during the ware, and it was refinished in wartime panzergrau (armored gray). It then saw long service, and now the crown is almost devoid of paint, and the wartime repaint is mostly worn away, so the original apple green paint can be seen in many areas. Area with no paint have oxidized, giving this helmet a fantastic "salty" service worn look. The interior of the helmet is in similar condition, and overall it has a fantastic "been there" look that is impossible to duplicate.

The SS decal on this helmet is well worn, and probably about 40% present. We can still it is definitively an SS decal, and the silver portions are still shiny. It has a beautiful matured look, with yellowing to the enamel as well as staining from oxidation to the shell. There is unfortunately not enough left to really identify the decal maker.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is heat lot number stamped 4304 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, ET64 indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerk of Thale, located in the Harz district in Saxony, 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 of the liner retaining split pins are intact, however they do not match, as the liner in this helmet was replaced at some point with a late war pattern M31 "pigskin" style leather liner. This is present with all 8 fingers intact, however the rear seam stitching has popped, and there is no top tie. The leather is a dark brown color, showing some flaking over the rim, but is still quite supple. The left side of the galvanized steel liner band is marked 64 n.A. / 57, indicating a size 55 liner for a size 62 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

SCHUBERTH-WERKE K.-G.
D. R. P.
1943
BRAUNSCHWEIG

There is no chinstrap installed on this helmet.

Overall this is a great "salty" service worn example of a Rare M35 Single Decal SS helmet, complete with a replaced liner! 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.

The M1935 design was slightly modified in 1940 to simplify its construction, the manufacturing process now incorporating more automated stamping methods. The principal change was to stamp the ventilator hole mounts directly onto the shell, rather than utilizing separate fittings. In other respects, the M1940 helmet was identical to the M1935. The Germans still referred to the M1940 as the M1935, while the M1940 designation was given by collectors.

In 1942, Due to wartime demands, the M-42 design was put into production because it was significantly quicker to manufacture. The rolled edge of the M-35 shell was eliminated, creating an unfinished edge along the rim. This edge flared out slightly, along the base of the skirt. The elimination of the rolled edge expedited the manufacturing process and reduced the amount of metal used in each helmet, without sacrificing protection.