Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Luftwaffe single decal M40 steel helmet retaining approximately 60% of its lightly textured Fliegerblau, or Flyer’s Blue, exterior finish, together with a well preserved Luftwaffe eagle decal and an original M31 liner dated 1943. The shell is stamped SE64 and lot numbered 4419, and the liner is sized 56cm.

The stamped steel shell retains approximately 60% of its original lightly textured Luftwaffe paint, with aluminum oxide used to create the characteristic surface texture. There is substantial honest wear, including scratches, chips, and exposed oxidized steel, particularly across the crown. No dents are evident from the supplied inspection. The interior finish is smooth rather than textured and remains well preserved beneath the skirt, while the paint inside the dome shows greater loss and oxidation.

The original Luftwaffe eagle decal remains more than approximately 90% intact. It has developed an attractive age toned appearance and shows only light chipping associated with the textured shell surface. There are no major cracks, scratches, or other significant damage to the decal.

The left interior skirt is stamped:

SE64

identifying manufacture by Sächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G. of Lauter, Germany in size 64. This 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:

4419

All three original liner retaining pins remain present and intact, though their exterior heads have lost nearly all of the original paint.

The helmet retains its original M31 leather liner, with six of the original eight fingers still intact and the original top tie string remaining in place. One damaged finger has torn through near the end, while another has torn away at the base. The leather shows staining and wear from use but remains generally supple.

The galvanized steel liner band is marked above the left ear:

64 n.A. / 56

indicating a size 56 liner fitted to a size 64 shell. The right side of the band is marked:

B. & C.
LITZMANNSTADT
1943

for manufacture by Biedermann & Czarnikow, a German company who 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.

No chinstrap is included.

With its SE64 shell, lot number 4419, more than 90% retained Luftwaffe eagle decal, approximately 60% surviving textured Fliegerblau finish, original 1943 dated size 56 M31 liner, and complete set of liner retaining pins, this is a strong service worn example of a German WWII Luftwaffe M40 helmet. The crown oxidation, exterior finish loss, liner finger damage, staining, loss of paint from the pin heads, and absence of the chinstrap are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in a Luftwaffe headgear, M40 helmet, SE manufactured shell, or advanced German WWII collection.

More on Luftwaffe Helmets:
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.