Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Luftwaffe double decal M35 helmet manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerk AG of Thale, shell marked ET64 and lot numbered 4000. It retains approximately 75% of its original smooth semi-gloss Fliegerblau Flyer’s Blue finish, a well preserved 2nd Pattern Luftwaffe eagle decal, remnants of the National Colors decal, and its original 1939 dated size 57 M31 liner.

The stamped sheet steel shell retains the smooth early Luftwaffe finish used before the later textured combat paints became standard. The exterior shows honest service wear with scuffs, scrapes, and wear through on the crown that has allowed some oxidation to develop, but there are no major dents or structural damage noted. The Luftwaffe eagle decal is approximately 90% retained with minor chipping and yellowing from the aged lacquer top coat, while the National Colors decal is only about 30% retained with substantial loss exposing better preserved blue paint beneath.

The interior left skirt is stamped:

ET64

identifying the manufacturer as Eisenhüttenwerk AG of Thale, located in the Harz district in Saxony, Germany. 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.

The rear interior skirt is stamped with lot number:

4000

All three original liner split pins are present. Their solid nickel alloy heads have lost most of the original paint and now display an aged patina. The helmet retains its original M31 leather liner with all eight fingers intact, though the top tie string is missing. The leather shows staining and age, has become somewhat stiff, and has some splitting along the lower edge. Several names were written on the liner and later crossed out.

The liner is mounted to the late aluminum band with reinforced sides and square aluminum chinstrap loops. The left side is marked:

64 n.A. / 57

indicating a size 57 liner fitted to a size 64 shell. The opposite side is maker marked:

SCHUBERTH - WERK K.-G.
D.R.P.
1939
BRAUNSCHWEIG

No chinstrap is currently installed.

Overall condition is very good and strongly service used. The shell retains substantial original smooth Fliegerblau paint, the Luftwaffe decal remains especially strong, and the liner is complete apart from the missing tie string. The main condition issues are exterior wear and oxidation at the crown, heavy loss to the National Colors decal, aged and stiffened liner leather with edge splitting, worn liner pin paint, and the missing chinstrap.

With its ET64 shell, lot number 4000, surviving double decal configuration, strong Luftwaffe eagle, smooth early Fliegerblau finish, and 1939 dated Schuberth-Werk size 57 M31 liner, this is a particularly appealing early Luftwaffe M35 helmet. It would display especially well in a Luftwaffe combat helmet, double decal M35, ET manufactured helmet, early war headgear, or advanced German WWII helmet collection.

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.

The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe on August 18TH 1934, and adopted for wear by the Luftwaffe on March 1ST 1935 along with the national tri-color shield for wear on the helmet.

The first pattern national eagle was utilized until a modified second pattern eagle was introduced in late 1936 or early 1937. Regulations of June 12TH 1940 discontinued the use of the national tri-color decal and further regulations of August 28TH 1943 abolished the national eagle decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to.