Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Waffen-SS single decal M40 steel helmet with a right side SS double rune decal that was partially touched up with silver paint after the war. The helmet retains a substantial amount of its original lightly textured Panzergrau finish, an original 1943 dated size 59 M31 liner, ET66 shell stamping, and rear lot number 5059. The helmet was reportedly found in a New York City scrapyard around 1964 and entered a private collection shortly thereafter.

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 a very interesting example of a Model 1940 M40 German WWII helmet, with a 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 particular helmet has a very interesting story, having been found in a New York City scrapyard circa 1964. It was acquired by the collector we purchased it from afterwards, but before that the person who found it decided to "touch up" the worn single decal with some model paint. The metal in the decal had oxidized, causing the silver background to discolor and flake, so probably about 50% of the decal area is now covered by silver paint. Unfortunately there is no solvent or method we could use to remove it, as it would also remove the decal itself, so we have left it as is as part of the history of the helmet.

Aside from that, the stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains much of its original lightly textured panzergrau (armored gray) paint, showing typical wear from service including scratches, scuffs, and chips. We can see areas of oxidation where the finish is missing, as well as areas of wear through. The top of the crown is missing most of the paint, as we often see. The interior retains the paint to a higher degree, which is very common due to how protected it is compared to the exterior. It displays a lovely matured look consistent with use during a war.

The interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer's code and size, ET66 indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerk AG of Thale, located in the Harz district in Saxony, Germany. Size 66 is a rather large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 5/8. Size 66 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector. Eisenhüttenwerk AG would later change manufacturer code from ET to CKL, which occurred during final production of the M40 and initial production of the M42 models. M42s can be found with ET stamps and M40s with ckl stamps. The change to an ordnance code (ckl) was to protect the identity and location of the manufacturer from the Allies.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is lot number stamped 5059, which is within observed ranges of Waffen-SS Single Decal M40 helmets from Eisenhüttenwerk. Helmets would often be shipped in large lots to the SS distribution system. The lot number indicates the particular batch of sheet steel that was used when a quantity of helmet shells were produced. This was accomplished through several steps of press-forming or hot-stamping the shells. The lot number serves as a control number for the manufacturer and as an extra stamp of approval.

All three of the liner retaining split pins are present, and have plated heads, which in the long term can cause paint flaking due to creeping oxidation. One split pin has lost most of the original paint, while the other two still retain most, but show chipping. The interior of the helmet still has an original M31 leather liner with all eight "fingers" still present and intact, as well as an original top tie. The leather shows very little in the way of staining, and there are no tears, just some cracking and splitting where the leather bends over the inner band. The late war issue galvanized steel outer liner band is marked on the left outer side with 66 nA / 59, indicating that the liner is a size 59, intended for a 66 shell. 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 is no chinstrap present.

With its ET66 shell, lot number 5059, original 1943 dated size 59 liner, substantial surviving textured Panzergrau finish, and identifiable Waffen-SS single decal configuration, this is a compelling service worn M40 helmet with unusual postwar history. The silver paint touch up covering roughly half of the decal area, crown finish loss, oxidation, liner cracking, varying pin head finish, and absence of the chinstrap are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Waffen-SS headgear, M40 helmet, Eisenhüttenwerke Thale shell, or advanced German WWII helmet collection.

The German 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 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.