{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-army-heer-m40-single-decal-helmet-with-liner-in-excellent-condition-et64","title":"Original German WWII Army Heer M40 Single Decal Helmet with Liner in Excellent Condition - ET64","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent all original example of a German WWII M40 helmet, issued to the Heer (Army). The condition leads us to believe that it was never actually issued or used in combat. The helmet was scrutinized from front to back, and everything we can see about it is correct.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains almost all of it's original Feldgrau paint, with just some minor scuffs and scratches keeping it from being mint. The left side of the helmet features an original Heer eagle decal, which is retained about 100%, with just some fading from age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped \u003cb\u003e1063,\u003c\/b\u003e and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer's code and size, \u003cb\u003eET64\u003c\/b\u003e indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Eisenhuttenwerk AG, Thale Harz, Germany in size 64. 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. This helmet even still has the original ink \"dome stamp\" on the top inside of the shell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three liner retaining pins are intact, with original paint fully intact. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of it's fingers intact. The liner is ink stamped with a size \u003cstrong\u003e57\u003c\/strong\u003e in a circle, with the original size adjustment string. There is also the correct felt padding under the liner, which is marked \u003cstrong\u003e64 n.A \/ 57\u003c\/strong\u003e on the outside of the galvanized steel band. The chinstrap is not present, most likely removed at some point to put on another helmet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe zinc-plated steel band is also is maker marked:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ccenter\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eB. \u0026amp; C.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLITZMANNSTADT\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e1943\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/center\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis liner was made by \u003cstrong\u003eBiedermann \u0026amp; Czarnikow\u003c\/strong\u003e, 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 \u003cem\u003eŁódź\u003c\/em\u003e to \u003cem\u003eLitzmannstadt\u003c\/em\u003e in honor of the German General Karl Litzmann who had captured the city in the previous World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall this is an excellent example of a German \"Single Decal\" M40 helmet. It does not appear to have been repainted or messed with in any way.  The shell does not appear to have been stripped or sandblasted, and there is definitely only one coat of paint on it. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Army's Supreme Command officially accepted the new helmet on June 25, 1935 and it was intended to replace all other helmets in service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMore than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed to reduce production time. This mainly included having the vent hole being stamped directly into the shell, as opposed to being riveted on later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cstyle type=\"text\/css\"\u003e\u003c!--\ntd {border: 1px solid #ccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}\n--\u003e\u003c\/style\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":29074571427909,"sku":"ONSV2677","price":1495.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/products\/ONSV2677__05.jpg?v=1597043574","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-army-heer-m40-single-decal-helmet-with-liner-in-excellent-condition-et64","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}