Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a fine example of totally original Model M40 M-1940 German WW2 medium size 64 helmet shell, refurbished by a master German camouflage restorer. The shell is stamped E.F.64, indicating that Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda, Germany manufactured it. It is also stamped with lot number 144 under the rear skirt. 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.

Notable history of the WWII M40 Refurbished 29th Infantry Division Souvenir Camouflage Helmet:

- This represents a German Camouflage Helmet captured by Members of the 29th Infantry Division "The Blue and Gray", decorated on the front with their distinctive "Yin Yang" unit insignia over 29th and BLUE GRAY. It was common for soldiers to personalize "bring back" helmets with their unit insignia.

- The helmet is also marked with OMAHA BEACH, STAINT LÔ (misspelled), RUHR, BREST, NORMANDY, AACHEN, BOCAGE, and the ELBE RIVER, locations liberated / taken with the help of the 29th Infantry Division was in during WWII. The 116th Infantry Regiment of the 29th was among the first to land at Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of Normandy at Omaha Beach, after which the rest of the division would land and then took part in the capture of the beachhead. The division then took part in the fighting in the "Bocage" area of Normandy, characterized by irregular fields and hedgerows. The division took part in further actions that helped the Allies break out of the Normandy area and into the rest of France.

- The 29th Infantry Division was ordered into active military service on 3 February 1941, and sent to Fort Meade, Maryland for training. Then, it was composed of the 115th, 116th and 175th Inf. Regts.; 110th, 111th, 224th and 227th FA Bns.; 121st Engr. Combat Bn.; 104th Med, Bn.; 29th Cav. Recon. Troop (Mech.); 729th Ord. Light Maintenance Co.; 29th QM Co.; 29th Signal Co., and the 29th Counterintel Corps.

- The 29th Division embarked during September 1942 on the famous Cunard liners RMS Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, and arrived in the United Kingdom October 5, 1942. After this it underwent extensive training in various locations to prepare for the amphibious assault.

- During the war, many German soldiers painted their helmets with a wide variety of camouflage patterns to avoid detection. Many unique camouflage patterns were used, including this lovely style, which is somewhat like the "Normandy" pattern but with darker more "Autumn" type colors. The helmet has also had heavy wire put around the shell, with chicken wire strung across the crown in the "half-basket" style. This allowed additional items such as fabric and foliage to be attached, improving the camouflage profile. As with the originals, any decals present were painted over.

- The chicken wire on this example exactly replicates the same European wire used during much of the war. The twist in the wire varies by country and by time. So many helmets out there use wire that is not correct for the period.

What does refurbished mean? While the shell is 100% genuine WWII manufacture, we have tasked, perhaps the very best German Helmet restorer in the USA, to customize this helmet. Every detail is hand done, with the finest materials including a hand painted shell, with a hand hand aged high quality reproduction liner. Please know that the paint, liner and chinstrap, while they look totally original are all new and the helmet has been refurbished to look as if it was picked up off the battlefield by a USGI and brought home as a war trophy.

This helmet is one-of-a-kind there will never be one exactly like it, making it a true collectors piece that will do nothing but appreciate in value in the coming years. This is a rare opportunity to own a genuine WWII German Helmet for a fraction of the cost of one with original camouflage paint.