{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-double-decal-nsdap-civic-police-m42-steel-combat-helmet-with-1943-dated-57cm-liner-stamped-ef64","title":"Original German WWII Double Decal NSDAP Civic Police M42 Steel Combat Helmet with 1943 Dated 57cm Liner - Stamped EF64","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item: Only One Available. This is a great all original example of a German WWII M42 Police Helmet, complete with original paint and decals. This is an eye catching helmet, and the first example we have been able to offer in years. It is a truly lovely helmet, in very good condition with just the right amount of period wear to give it that great \"broken in\" look. Field Police units served in frontline capacity, serving on the front, and also operating behind the lines fighting partisans. The \u003cem\u003eFeldpolizei\u003c\/em\u003e units operated under the guise of the SS.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains much of its original paint but does show wear and use. It is painted in a very nice late war lightly textured \u003cem\u003ePanzergrau\u003c\/em\u003e (armor gray) paint, which is retained about 80%. There is some wear through on the top of the helmet, which has allowed the steel to oxidize, and there are chips, scuffs, and scratches from service as well. The helmet features genuine double decals of the NSDAP civic eagle on the left side and the swas on a red shield on the right. Both show period wear and age related deterioration, however they still look great, with the civic police eagle decal and party shield both retained at over 90%, showing some lovely age toning to the enamel top coat.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe shell is faintly stamped over the left ear with \u003cstrong\u003eEF64\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating that \u003cem\u003eEmaillierwerke AG, of Fulda\u003c\/em\u003e, Germany manufactured it. It is also stamped with heat lot number \u003cstrong\u003e2207\u003c\/strong\u003e under the rear skirt. Later in the war, the maker mark would be moved to the rear of the helmet. 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll three liner retaining pins are intact, with one retaining the original lightly textured paint well, while the other two look to possibly have been replaced during service, as they have a gloss finish to the tops. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 liner, with all eight of the \"fingers\" still present and in very good shape. The top tie is present as well, and there is just a bit of dry rot around the rim area. We can see a faded original size marking, which for some reason someone decided to write \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e57\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e inside. The left side of the band is marked \u003cstrong\u003e64 n.A. \/ 57\u003c\/strong\u003e, indicating a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date, though it can be hard to read:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\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\u003cp\u003eThis liner was made by Biedermann \u0026amp; 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. The chin strap is completely missing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOverall a very nice 100% genuine rare M42 Double Decal NSDAP Civic Police Combat helmet! M40 helmets of this quality are always the hardest to find on the market. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eThe German Helmet:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\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, replacing the multi-piece riveted vent with one stamped directly into the steel. Later, in 1942 the rolled steel rim was removed from the pattern to further expedite production.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43673463914565,"sku":"ONSV25WSO002","price":1995.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV25WSO002__06.jpg?v=1758575241","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-double-decal-nsdap-civic-police-m42-steel-combat-helmet-with-1943-dated-57cm-liner-stamped-ef64","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}