Original German M40 WWII Type Steel Helmet- Finnish M40/55 Contract
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Original Items: In another major military antiques discovery, IMA acquired the remaining known stock of German manufactured WWII type steel helmets held by the government of Finland. The remarkable story of this find was featured in Military Trader magazine in the article “Cache of Dreams: Thousands of German Made Helmets Discovered in Finland.”
These are genuine German manufactured M40 type steel combat helmets produced by Hans Römer Fabrik of Neu-Ulm, Germany. Helmets of this pattern were supplied during WWII and were later manufactured under a special 1955 contract for the Finnish Army, leading collectors to commonly refer to them as M40/55 helmets.
The postwar contract helmets were produced in the same factory, using the same machinery and reportedly some of the same workers who had manufactured steel helmets during WWII. They are nearly identical in construction to German WWII M40 helmets, featuring the classic rolled edge, correct steel thickness, and pressed ventilation holes. Because of their close similarity, examples are sometimes incorrectly represented as original German wartime issue helmets.
We also have good reason to believe that some helmets within this stock may be refurbished German WWII M35 or M40 shells. Under this theory, wartime markings and original paint were removed before the helmets were supplied to Finland, possibly in response to Allied restrictions on the postwar sale of German military equipment. Because individual examples vary and many markings were removed during refurbishment, we cannot guarantee that any particular helmet shell was manufactured during WWII.
Styles and colors vary, including shades commonly described as field gray and field green. Please review the photographs, which show multiple representative examples. Typical condition will include minor dents, areas of surface rust, paint scuffs, scratches, staining, paint chips, and paint loss. These helmets were issued, refurbished, stored, and used by the Finnish military for many years, so service and storage wear should be expected.
Most examples were refurbished one or more times while in Finnish service between approximately 1955 and 1990. These are genuine military helmets used by actual soldiers in the defense of their country, not modern reproductions.
The leather liners and chinstraps were manufactured in Finland for the Finnish Army, which designated the helmet as the M55. Liner and chinstrap styles vary because some helmets remained in service into the early 1970s and were repaired or updated as needed. Certain helmets may have additional liner holes drilled into the shell during Finnish service.
The helmet shells can accept our reproduction German WWII M35 style leather liner and chinstrap using reproduction WWII style split pins and washers. Depending upon the individual shell and liner combination, installation may require drilling new front holes in the reproduction liner. The helmet shell itself should not require drilling.
Sizing: Helmets are sold according to the size marked or measured inside the installed Finnish liner, not according to the shell size. As a general guide, size 55 or 56 cm liners are usually fitted to size 62 shells, size 57 or 58 cm liners are usually found in size 64 or 66 shells, and liners measuring 59 cm or larger are generally fitted to size 66 or 68 shells.
We cannot honor requests for a specific shell size and can only select helmets according to the ordered liner size. Before ordering a German WWII style M31 replacement liner, carefully measure the helmet shell. Finnish liners have a lower profile than German style liners, so a smaller replacement liner may be required than the size currently installed.
This is a rare opportunity to obtain a genuine German manufactured military steel helmet at a price comparable to many modern reproductions. Each example carries the honest wear and variation expected from decades of Finnish military service, making these helmets excellent foundations for restoration, reenactment, or historical display.
History of Finnish Combat Helmets:
Finland imported tens of thousands of helmets for the Winter War of 1939-40 and the Continuation War of 1941-44, and imported again in 1955. Since IMA acquired the last of all the known helmet stock from the Finnish government you may wonder did we get German WWII marked helmets? Yes, and they will be offered at a far higher price. Did we get other types of helmets? Yes, we also received Hungarian WWII M38 (1938) helmets as well. This deal is a treasure trove of WWII era combat helmet history.
History the German & Finnish Alliance-
In 1938 Finland became very concerned with Stalin's Soviet expansionism and turned to Great Britain and France for support. Both Countries were under supplied themselves so Finland, perhaps reluctantly turned to NSDAP Germany for aid. AH was swift to assist supplying great quantities of materiel including thousands of German Battle Helmets.
The Russians invaded Finland in 1939 driving deep into the country. The Finns resisted with amazing tenacity that has been the subject of legend and the wonderful WW2 Movie "THE WINTER WAR" (offered by IMA). The Russians paid a very heavy price and sued for peace in early 1940 keeping the invaded areas of Finland. Finland totally exhausted agreed with great regret.
In the summer of 1941 AH's NSDAP War Machine invaded the Soviet Union driving everything before them. Finland whom had received so much help from Germany then rose up and drove the Soviet presence out of Finland. However Finland would not "invade" the Soviet Union, they declared themselves not to be aggressors.
It is true however that the Germans recruited great numbers of Finnish "Volunteers" for their "SS UNITS" that did invade Mother Russia but that was true of all the overrun European Countries and even some others, still independent including apparently England and the United States, although these number were said to be very low.
At the close of WW2 with Germany defeated Finland was highly penalized by the Soviet Union, again gave up the lost territory of 1939/40 but did manage to retain it's independence unlike so much of Eastern Europe.
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