Original Item: Only One Available. This is a phenomenal service worn example of an early German WWII Luftwaffe M38 Fallschirmjäger paratrooper helmet, complete with its original style liner assembly and extensively worn but substantially surviving four point chinstrap rig. The shell is stamped ET71 with the very low rear lot number 59, while the liner is marked for a 60cm head size and size 71 shell. Large ET71 Fallschirmjäger helmets with this much of their original internal rigging still present are particularly impressive display pieces.

The M38 was developed specifically for German airborne troops, with a compact shell profile, reduced brim, specialized liner system, and four point chinstrap arrangement intended for parachute operations. This example is an early configuration with its liner and chinstrap assembly secured to the shell by four vented spanner bolts.

We do not see obvious evidence that the liner or surviving chinstrap components have been removed or substantially altered, although no absolute claim is made regarding their uninterrupted installation history.

The exterior retains approximately 65% of its original Feldgrau field gray combat finish. The paint shows widespread service wear, scattered loss, and light oxidation, with exposed steel in many areas having matured to an attractive gray patina.

Despite the extensive wear, the shell remains structurally very good. We did not observe any large dents, perforations, heavy rust blooms, or other major damage.

No decal remnants are presently visible. It is possible that decals were once present and were completely lost through wear or removal, but without surviving traces we cannot determine the helmet's original decal configuration.

The left side of the skirt is stamped:

ET 71

The ET code identifies Eisenhüttenwerk A.G. Thale, the German manufacturer associated with M38 Fallschirmjäger helmet shells. The 71 denotes the large shell size.

The rear skirt is stamped with the lot number:

59

This is an unusually low lot number and is consistent with an early production helmet. Combined with the ET maker code and early aluminum liner construction, the helmet fits well within an early wartime configuration, although the lot number alone should not be used to assign an exact production year.

The size 71 shell is one of the largest Fallschirmjäger helmet sizes and is fitted with a liner marked for a 60cm head size.

The liner assembly retains the correct early type nonmagnetic aluminum band with foam rubber cushioning between the band and leather liner. The rubber remains present but, as commonly encountered after decades of aging, has become somewhat stiff.

The leather liner is complete and has developed a dark russet brown appearance from age and use. It shows genuine service wear, including cracking, several tears in the surface, and splitting around portions of the rim.

The rear portion of the liner carries the size markings within a box:

Kopfweite: Gr. 60
Stahlhelm: Nr. 71

Toward the front is the liner supplier marking:

Karl Heisler
BERLIN C2
D.R.G.M.a

Karl Heisler of Berlin is documented on surviving early Fallschirmjäger liner assemblies, and the combination of size 60 with shell size 71 is appropriate for this large ET71 shell.

There is also a handwritten marking on the left side of the liner:

103 21

We do not know the significance of this inscription and have left it uninterpreted.

The original style four point chinstrap rig remains substantially present but shows extensive wear and should be regarded as delicate. The straps are constructed from leather over a textile core for added strength.

The outer leather has worn completely through in areas, and portions of the underlying textile have also deteriorated. The buckle and snap remain present, but the sections that originally passed beneath the chin have suffered considerable loss of material.

Some surviving strap sections are presently held in position with paperclips. These remaining components are fragile and should be handled with considerable care. The suede interior surfaces are heavily worn and impregnated with accumulated dirt and oils from prolonged use.

Overall, this is a highly compelling early M38 Fallschirmjäger helmet with the kind of genuine service wear that gives an original paratrooper helmet tremendous visual character. The large ET71 shell, very low 59 lot number, correctly marked 60cm Karl Heisler liner, early aluminum liner band, four vented attachment bolts, and substantially surviving chinstrap rig make it especially desirable. The extensive chinstrap deterioration, liner cracking and splitting, paint loss, oxidation, and absence of visible decals are all fully disclosed, while the helmet remains an impressive and unusually complete example for a Fallschirmjäger or German airborne collection.

Fallschirmjägerhelm M38

Fallschirmjägerhelm M38 ( M38 Heisler / M38 ) - was a German steel paratrooper helmet intended for Fallschirmjäger airborne units from World War II. Originally, the German airborne troops used the standard Stahlhelm M35 helmets throughout the German Army . It soon turned out, however, that this helmet was not suitable for parachuting, as it caused significant air resistance during the jump. A too loosely fastened helmet could have been torn from the jumper's head, and if it was tightly fastened it could cause suffocation.

Therefore, from 1936, work was carried out at the Eisenhüttenwerke factory to create a helmet dedicated specifically to the airborne troops. Their effect was a parachute helmet designed by engineer Karl Heisler, which under the designation M38 was adopted by the army.

The M38 helmet was derived from the standard M35 helmet. However, it was smaller, more streamlined and with a significantly reduced hood. The front part of the hood was only marked, and the rear part was shortened to 1.8 cm. (in experimental versions - 2 cm). The rims of the bell were rolled up. The helmet bell was made in a series of operations from one piece of steel sheet 1.5 mm thick. It was produced in sizes marked as 66, 68 and 71.

The internal equipment of the experimental versions of the helmet was identical to that of the standard M35 helmet. In the version adopted for equipment, a new type of fascia was used, which better protected against possible injuries. For this purpose, the bell walls were additionally lined with a shock-absorbing micro-rubber insert cut into 7 "arms" with a thickness of 10 to 13 mm. The actual fit was in the form of a leather cap with round holes cut for ventilation. Both the micro-rubber insert and the leather cap were attached to an aluminum rim with a thickness of 1 mm. All interior fittings were bolted with four screws to the helmet bell.

A new type of lining was also used in the parachute helmet. The standard two-point suspension was replaced with a four-point "Y" -shaped suspension, which ensured better fit of the helmet on the head. In the model adopted as an accessory, the straps of the lining were widened to 20 mm and latches were introduced to protect the helmet against accidental unfastening.

The helmet's bell was initially painted gray-blue. A national-colored shield on the right side and a Luftwaffe eagle decal on the left side were put on. Later during the war, the bell was painted gray-green or sand colored. Various covers and masking nets were also used. In winter conditions, the helmet bell was painted white.

Polish tankers from the 2nd Corps of the Polish Armed Forces in the West would use captured M38 helmets. The reason for this was their small size and the fact that they fit very tightly to the head. However, they were strictly forbidden to use them, as it happened that their own infantry mistook the tankers leaving their vehicles as Germans and opened fire on them.