Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely all original example of a Model 1940 German early WWII "Single Decal" overpaint helmet, complete with an original 58cm liner and chinstrap. Even better is the fantastic period applied lightly textured green camouflage paint job, which as with many helmets during the period was applied over the decal on the helmet. There is now a bit of wear to the paint over the Luftwaffe Eagle decal, allowing us to confirm that it is a "single decal" helmet.

While the exterior shows the camouflage paint, the interior paint is the correct smooth blue-gray Luftwaffe fliegerblau (flyer's blue) used on early helmets, which would later become textured. There are areas of paint loss and oxidation on on the exterior, showing that the camouflage was applied over the original paint. Just a fantastic looking German WWII Luftwaffe Helmet!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is lot number stamped 603 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size EF66, indicating that it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda, Germany. Later in the war, the maker mark would be moved to the rear of the helmet. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 3/8. Size 66 shells are much harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, with the paint retained to a varying degree. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, with all eight of the original "fingers" intact, though the top tie is missing. There is actually part of an additional finger at the very rear, only seen on larger size liners such as these. The leather has a lovely chestnut brown color from age and use, however it is still quite supple, with no cracking or other damage. The left exterior of the galvanized steel liner band is marked 66 n. A. / 58, indicating that it is a size 58 liner for a size 66 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

SCHUBERTH-WERKE K.-G.
D. R. P.
1940
BRAUNSCHWEIG

Attached to the liner is a very nice original transitional chinstrap, featuring a steel adjustment buckle and aluminum attachment studs. The leather is a bit stiff, but shows no major damage, and all thirteen of the size adjustment holes are present on the longer portion. The end is marked with a partial maker marking of PINNEBERG / 1940, probably for maker Otto Gerkhens.

Overall a lovely service worn Green Camouflage Single Decal Overpaint Luftwaffe M40 Helmet, completely honest and with no signs of being messed with! We do not get helmets like these very often at all, and it is sure to appreciate in value in the coming years. Ready to display!

German WWII "Normandy" Camouflage:
Some of the most unique German helmets of WWII were worn during the Battle for Normandy. The terrain of thick green hedgerows, rolling green meadows, golden fields and orchards created diverse but deadly battlefields; one that necessitated good helmet camouflage for survival. To help their helmets blend into this environment, German soldiers at Normandy used a wide range of paint, wire, cloth covers and other devices to this end. These men were often hardened, experienced combat veteran with experience in campaigns in Poland, France, Africa and the USSR. They knew from experience what worked and what didn’t, and the helmet they wore during the Normandy campaign reflected that.

One effective, although more permanent method of concealing the helmet was the use of camouflage paint. It is up to some debate exactly when this method began among German soldiers but by the time of the Normandy campaign it was widespread. In mid 1943 the German high command ordered that a three color camouflaged scheme of tan, green and brown be used in the painting of vehicles and other equipment. These same paints were used to camouflage helmets as well. While the high command did order specific color codes be used for consistency, the hues of tan, green, and brown can vary on original examples significantly. The mix of these tan, green, and brown colors were used by German troops at Normandy with such frequency that today collectors call almost any German helmet with a mix of these three colors “Normandy Camo”.

It should be clear that while the use of these three colors for camouflaging helmets was common, there was never a directive from the German military high command to paint helmets in this manor. No officially sanctioned “Normandy camo” existed. The collector term, Normandy camo can still be justified to a large degree. Photos from the battle as well as surviving original example with Normandy providence would indicate this particular camo pattern was a favorite of Germans during the campaign. The mix of the three colors was certainly a good choice for Normandy as the countryside does exhibit those same colors. That being said with much of Western Europe’s terrain looking so similar this same pattern would see action in other battles as well.

The camouflage paints used at Normandy do not confine themselves to distinct hues of tan, brown and green. Some helmets were painted with two colors or just one and sometimes with non-standard military paints that were probably locally sourced. Further complicating the matter, captured British, Soviet, French and Italian paints were all used to camouflage helmets at Normandy. The hue of these colors often deviate from the standard German military colors. The German soldiers who camouflaged their helmets were well aware of their surroundings and certainly were aware of what colors and patterns would blend into the terrain they would soon be fighting in. It is logical they would have chosen colored paint based the local area which would account for the variation.

The German Stahlhelm Steel Helmet
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.