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Item: ONSV3945

Original German WWII M40 Helmet - USGI Signed Bring Back War Trophy - 1100 Engineers

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  • Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This example of a captured German M40 helmet was painted white by USGIs who then had their names listed on the helmet as members of the "1100 ENGINEERS". This Model 1940 German helmet is still in nice condition with no dents or damage to the shell.

    The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped, 159 and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, Q64 indicating that indicating manufacture by Quist in Esslingen, Germany in size 64. Size 64 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 58cm or US 7 to 7 1/4. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with 4 of its 8 fingers intact. It has a nice chestnut brown aged color but is dry. The chinstrap is present and complete and all three liner retaining pins are intact.

    The helmet has 53 names and is nicely marked on the front:
    ARKY. 45
    DATTNER NESS MULLIGAN
    CAPT. J. E. NElSON
    LT.C.D.MOORHEAD
    1100 ENGINEERS


    The names are as follows:
    W.KOWAL
    LOMBARDI
    TEPP
    MOYER
    PIKE
    MAJEWSKI
    MURRAY
    CRACCHILIO
    GALE
    OSTROWSKI
    FELCH
    PASS
    ALLMAN
    PARKIN
    ELLIS
    KINSEY
    SUZMCEAK
    MARTIN
    ZAPOROWICZ
    VINSON
    KARPINSKI
    LADEN
    COHEN
    M.KOWAL
    FRASER
    WILLIAMS
    THOMAS
    PAGLEY
    LEDERMAN
    LUFSTROM
    CAFFAZA
    McCARRAN
    SPENCE
    DISCIULLO
    STRASICK
    BONNER
    FERENCE
    REA
    WATSON
    DUNBAR
    CORRAO
    CAGE
    LUND
    THENOT
    RAYNOR
    SWANK
    TIBBETTS
    PRATT
    STRASICK
    SPENCE
    TRIVISONNO
    DI LAZZARO
    SLUTSKY

    A really nice trench art helmet with 1945 date brought back as a trophy of War after the fall of the Third Reich.

    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 an effort to reduced construction time and labor costs minor modifications were introduced in March 1940 resulting in the M40 helmet. Further construction modifications were undertaken in August 1942 resulting in the M42 helmet.
  • This product is available for international shipping. Shipping not available to: Australia, France, or Germany
  • Not eligible for payment with Paypal or Amazon

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