Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original service worn example of a German WWII M40 helmet, issued to the Heer (Army), with the the remnants of a lovely green camouflage paint job. This is only on the exterior of the helmet for the most part, so it was definitely field applied. The helmet then saw long service, which wore away the camouflage paint job in areas, and the helmet also shows oxidation peppering from weather exposure. It is possible that this helmet spent some time on the ground before being picked up by a USGI. There is a lot of oxidation on the interior, consistent with the helmet being upside down and collecting rain water.

The stamped steel construction helmet still does retain much of the camouflage paint on the exterior, with wear consistent with service and weather exposure. We do not see any signs that there were decals on the helmet at any time, which is not uncommon for later war helmets such as this.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron bears the stamped manufacturer's code and size, Q66 indicating that it was manufactured by F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. in the German city of Esslingen. There is a lot number under this, which is illegible. Size 66 is a nice larger size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 5/8. Size 66 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector. Quist is unique among the WWII makers in that they never really switched to the simplified M42 pattern. They did make some M42s, but continued to make the M40 until the end of the war. They also did move their maker code and size to the rear of the helmet heat lots with S followed by 4 numbers, and some beginning with T as well, which we cannot make out on this helmet.

All three liner split pins are still intact, and retain much of the camouflage paint, which matches the shell perfectly. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present, however it definitely shows wear and damage from use. The leather is intact but now dark and stiff, with some cracking around the edge. The top securing string is missing, almost having worn through the ends of the fingers. The left exterior of the galvanized steel liner band is unfortunately oxidized and covered with some dirt and grease, so we cannot see the size marking. The right side has the full maker information clearly stamped:

RB Nr.
1943
0 / 0251 / 0111

The chin strap is fully present, but like the liner the leather is dark and stiff, with some cracking in areas. It has the correct steel hardware for a later war helmet, which shows significant oxidation.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine Service Worn M40 Heer Army helmet with lovely original camouflage paint! M40 helmets of this quality are always the hard to find on the market. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time.

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 1934 tests began on an improved Stahlhelm, whose design was a development of World War I models. The Eisenhüttenwerke company of Thale carried out prototype design and testing, with Dr. Friedrich Schwerd once again taking a hand.

The new helmet was pressed from sheets of molybdenum steel in several stages. The size of the flared visor and skirt was reduced, and the large projecting lugs for the obsolete armor shield were eliminated. The ventilator holes were retained, but were set in smaller hollow rivets mounted to the helmet's shell. The edges of the shell were rolled over, creating a smooth edge along the helmet. Finally, a completely new leather suspension, or liner, was incorporated that greatly improved the helmet's safety, adjustability, and comfort for each wearer. These improvements made the new M1935 helmet lighter, more compact, and more comfortable to wear than the previous designs.

The Army's Supreme Command officially accepted the new helmet on June 25, 1935 and it was intended to replace all other helmets in service.

More than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed, replacing the multi-piece riveted vent with one stamped directly into the steel. Later, in 1942 the rolled steel rim was removed from the pattern to further expedite production.