Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good service used condition all original example of a German WWII M35 helmet shell, as issued to the Heer (Army), with very desirable "Double Decals". This stamped sheet steel construction helmet was originally finished with early war smooth Apfel-grün (apple green) paint, however it looks like during the war it was overpainted with lightly textured panzergrau (armor gray). After that it saw long use in the field, and even looks like it may had some type of snow camouflage at some point. This would have been cleaned off in the spring, and along with service wear the armor gray repaint has worn away in many areas, allowing the original apple green paint to be seen. There is overall wear and oxidation, however there is no major damage or denting we can see, and it has a fantastic look.

The use of the second decal was discontinued in 1940, and in 1943 it was ordered that helmets with the national colors have them removed, so finding a helmet with both present is a real treat! The left side of the helmet features a lovely Heer eagle decal, which is retained about 75%, with some areas chipped away and showing overall wear. The right side of the helmet features a national colors decal, which is retained about 50%, showing more wear, in some cases right through the decal. Definitely lots of history here!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 470 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, Q64 indicating that it was manufactured by F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. in the German city of Esslingen. Size 64 is a nice smaller 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 of the original liner split pins are present, though they are nickel plated, so most of the paint has worn away, and they show a lovely patina on the plating. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of its fingers fully intact, complete with the top securing tie. The leather has a lovely chestnut brown color, and is still supple, with no tearing, just some splitting around the bottom edge. 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, as aluminum was scarce. The left exterior liner band over the left ear is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that this is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. There is also a very faint 57 in a circle on one of the rear fingers. The right side has the full maker information clearly stamped:

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
1938
Bln.- Ch'burg 5

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin - Charlottenburg, in the year 1938, which fits right into the immediate pre-war period. There is a chinstrap installed, but it looks to have been adapted from a Civic helmet chinstrap or one from another country.

Overall a fantastic 100% genuine M35 Double Decal Heer Army helmet with loads of history and a complete liner with non-original replaced chinstrap! 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.

More 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.