New Made Item: These are so authentic people will think they are genuine WW2. No two are the same! Simply put this is the very best reproduction M1935 helmet available anywhere. It is an IMA exclusive and has been in development for over a year. It was copied exactly from an original in the IMA collection. But let us explain precisely why it is the very best:

The finish/color is correct "winter camouflage" with red "Geneva cross" insignia on the four sides of the helmet, indicating Sanität (medic) issue. Every helmet has been hand painted and aged, so none will be the same. There are no decals visible, as these were often painted over during the winter camouflage application. We have also aged and darkened the leather liner to give it a one-of-a-kind personalization as if it was picked up after a battle put away in a safe place and rediscovered 70 years later.

Notable history of the WWII M35 SS "Kampfgruppe Peiper" Ardennes Winter Medic Helmet-

- On December 16th 1944 the Germans launched their last great offensive. Known here as the Battle of the Bulge, it is officially known as the Ardennes offensive.

- The German code name was "Unternehmen Wacht am Rhein" (Watch on the Rhein). The intent was to lull the Allies to sleep thinking it was a defensive operation

- The spearhead unit was the 6th Panzer Army made up of the 1SS LAH, 3SS Totenkopf, and 12SS AH Jugen.

- Within the 1st SS LAH Panzer Division was one of the most well known and notorious battle groups, Kampfgruppe Peiper, named after convicted war criminal SS-Standartenführer Joachim Peiper. The group became well known for committing war crimes against civilians and PoWs.

- By 1944 helmets had been over painted with white to blend with the snow. The red crosses are plainly seen repainted over the white for Sanität Medic Troops. This example has had a heavy wire put around the shell, with chicken wire strung across the crown. This allowed additional items such as fabric and foliage to be attached, improving the camouflage profile. As with the originals, any decals present were painted over.

- The chicken wire on this example exactly replicates the same European wire used during much of the war. The twist in the wire varies by country and by time. So many helmets out there use wire that is not correct for the period.

- German Veterans who had seen service in Russia were surprised in Normandy by the civility of the combat where in the east the red cross medic helmet was not respected, and even specifically targeted at times.

- This helmet represents those who bravely faced combat with bright red crosses seen by all.

The shell is constructed of 1.8mm thick steel, exactly the same thickness used by the Germans in WWII. This means our helmet is as heavy and as solid as an original. The shell is large (size 68) and has the correct classic M1935 rolled edge as well as proper hollow rivet ventilation holes. For added authenticity we stamped the code 1575 at nape and ET - 68 over ear. There is also an ink dome stamp on the inside of the shell, in blue or yellow ink. The ink stamp will be faint or smeared for authenticity, and probably very hard to read.

The liner comprised of soft (dark colored) genuine leather that, just like the originals, will turn brown with age, in correct eight finger configuration with central drawstring and an M1931 aluminum liner band that is maker marked, dated, and size stamped! Liner size can accommodate head sizes 7 (56cm) up to 7 5/8 (61cm). The all leather chinstrap has a black exterior with tan interior, comes with metal studs, correct aluminum buckle, and connects to the helmet with proper loops.

This is perhaps the finest most authentic M35 replica helmet offered anywhere in the world.

German WWII "Normandy" Camouflage:
Some of the most unique German helmets of WWII were worn during the Battle for Normandy. The terrain of thick green hedgerows, rolling green meadows, golden fields and orchards created diverse but deadly battlefields; one that necessitated good helmet camouflage for survival. To help their helmets blend into this environment, German soldiers at Normandy used a wide range of paint, wire, cloth covers and other devices to this end. These men were often hardened, experienced combat veteran with experience in campaigns in Poland, France, Africa and the USSR. They knew from experience what worked and what didn’t, and the helmet they wore during the Normandy campaign reflected that.

One effective, although more permanent method of concealing the helmet was the use of camouflage paint. It is up to some debate exactly when this method began among German soldiers but by the time of the Normandy campaign it was widespread. In mid 1943 the German high command ordered that a three color camouflaged scheme of tan, green and brown be used in the painting of vehicles and other equipment. These same paints were used to camouflage helmets as well. While the high command did order specific color codes be used for consistency, the hues of tan, green, and brown can vary on original examples significantly. The mix of these tan, green, and brown colors were used by German troops at Normandy with such frequency that today collectors call almost any German helmet with a mix of these three colors “Normandy Camo”.

It should be clear that while the use of these three colors for camouflaging helmets was common, there was never a directive from the German military high command to paint helmets in this manor. No officially sanctioned “Normandy camo” existed. The collector term, Normandy camo can still be justified to a large degree. Photos from the battle as well as surviving original example with Normandy providence would indicate this particular camo pattern was a favorite of Germans during the campaign. The mix of the three colors was certainly a good choice for Normandy as the countryside does exhibit those same colors. That being said with much of Western Europe’s terrain looking so similar this same pattern would see action in other battles as well.

The camouflage paints used at Normandy do not confine themselves to distinct hues of tan, brown and green. Some helmets were painted with two colors or just one and sometimes with non-standard military paints that were probably locally sourced. Further complicating the matter, captured British, Soviet, French and Italian paints were all used to camouflage helmets at Normandy. The hue of these colors often deviate from the standard German military colors. The German soldiers who camouflaged their helmets were well aware of their surroundings and certainly were aware of what colors and patterns would blend into the terrain they would soon be fighting in. It is logical they would have chosen colored paint based the local area which would account for the variation.