Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very interesting example of a German WWII Model 1935 steel helmet, which looks to originally have been painted for issue to the Heer Army, but then was shipped off to Finland as aid during the WWII Era. The small northern European country battled the USSR twice during the period, first during the "Winter War" of November 30, 1939, to March 13, 1940, and later during the "Continuation War" of  25 June 1941 – 19 September 1944. The USSR had territorial demands in southern Finland, and after they were not met, launched an invasion several months prior to the outbreak of WWII.

In spite of vast numerical and technological superiority, the Soviets faired quite poorly, suffering heavy losses while failing to capture the entire country. A peace treaty was signed, but then abrogated by the USSR when they launched a second war, which did not accomplish much more. As Finland was allied with Germany during these conflicts, they received war aid, in the form of Stahlhelm pattern steel helmets and other war materiel. The Finns would paint the shells a dark green color, and would often write their names under the rear skirt.

This looks to be one of those Finnish issued helmets, still in the original WWII configuration, though it does look to have had swas emblems painted on when it was brought back, with one of them being a "reverse" style. Other than that, it retains the original green Finnish paint very well, showing a lovely service worn look, and there is a partial name in white under the rear skirt.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 4492, and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer's code and size, E.F.64 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda 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.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, however they have nickel or nickel-plated heads, so the paint is mostly missing. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present and supple, showing wear consistent with service and age. The top tie string is no longer present, and it shows overall discoloration, with staining in the forehead area. There is also some splitting and dry rot where the leather bends over the inner band. The liner band is aluminum, with square aluminum chin strap loops attached to reinforced sides. This is the last pattern before the move to galvanized steel bands. The left exterior of the liner band is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that the liner band is a size 57, intended for a 64 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

B. & C.
BERLIN
1939

This liner was made by Biedermann & Czarnikow, a German company who later 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. This is exactly the right period and type of liner for this very early helmet.

The chinstrap is present and has the correct aluminum buckle and attachment studs for an early pattern chinstrap. The longer section still has all thirteen of the size adjustment holes, however the leather is overall now quite stiff and in need of conditioning. There is some surface cracking, and it should definitely be handled with care.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine Finnish M35 helmet that saw extensive service during WWII! The period service wear on this gives it an absolutely unique look! This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time!

The 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.

These 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.

In 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.

The 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.

The Army's Supreme Command officially accepted the new helmet on June 25, 1935 and it was intended to replace all other helmets in service.

The M1935 design was slightly modified in 1940 to simplify its construction, the manufacturing process now incorporating more automated stamping methods. The principal change was to stamp the ventilator hole mounts directly onto the shell, rather than utilizing separate fittings. In other respects, the M1940 helmet was identical to the M1935. The Germans still referred to the M1940 as the M1935, while the M1940 designation were given by collectors.

The last wartime upgrade to the standard helmet took place on 6 July 1942 at the request of the Army High Command. The rolled edge found on M1935 and M1940 helmets was discontinued as a measure of economy. On 1 August 1942 the first M1942 helmets were placed into production, and this was the model produced until late in the war, when most factories were captured or stood idle due to material shortages.