Original Item: One of a Kind. This is a lovely all original example of a late war German Model 42 Steel helmet, captured and decorated by a USGI during the war! This stamped sheet steel construction helmet was completely overpainted in green, and then the owner turned it into a great "Travel Diary" by adding the locations and dates for the locations they were stationed during the war in yellow paint. There are seven of these, which are as follows: "SCOTLAND" / ·44·, "ENGLAND" / "44", "FRANCE" / ·44·, "BELGIUM" / ·44+45·, "LUXEMBERG" / "44", "HOLLAND" / ·45·, and at the very front "GERMANY" / ·45·, the end of their travels. These are all easily legible, though the paint on the exterior does show wear and deterioration from age and use, so we believe this helmet was probably decorated while still in Europe. USGI items like these are fantastic collector's items, and every one is unique! Definitely a lovely example!

On the under side of the rear skirt, the shell has a stamped manufacturer's code and size EF66 over heat lot 1068, indicating it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda, Germany. Later in the war, all markings were moved to the rear of the shell, shortly before the change to 3 letter codes by other makers, however Emaillierwerke AG continued using "EF" until the end of the war. They also seem to have used increasingly non-standard stamps for the heat lot as the war progressed. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate size 58cm and 59cm liners, or 7 1/4 - 7 3/8 US. Shells of this large size are harder to find, and more valuable to a collector.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, and were painted red when the helmet was decorated, which is well retained. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, however it is definitely damaged and deteriorated. If definitely looks like it was possibly exposed to water or something else, causing it to shrink become very delicate. Some portions are already missing, and what remains is in very delicate condition. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 66 n.A / 58, indicating that this is a size 58 liner for a size 66 shell. The right side has the full maker information lightly stamped:

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

Attached to the liner is an early pattern chinstrap with all aluminum hardware, which still is full length with all thirteen size adjustment holes present on the longer section. The leather is stained and dark, with some cracking, and it looks to have seen long service. There is maker information on the longer end, but we are not able to determine what it says.

Overall a very nice later war USGI Decorated "Travel Diary" M42 helmet, completely correct some great display and research potential. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time.

The Stahlhelm:
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 were given by collectors.

The last wartime upgrade to the standard helmet took place on 6 July 1942 at the request of the Army High Command. The rolled edge found on M1935 and M1940 helmets was discontinued as a measure of economy. On 1 August 1942 the first M1942 helmets were placed into production, and this was the model produced until late in the war, when most factories were captured or stood idle due to material shortages.