Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original example Model 1935 German WW2 "single decal" helmet with a Luftwaffe Eagle decal on the left side, still fitted with its original M-31 Liner. However, we can clearly see that originally the helmet also had a "National Colors" decal on the right. The use of the second decal was discontinued in 1940, and in 1943 it was ordered that helmets with the national colors have them removed.

It looks like this helmet had the entire exterior repainted, and originally was finished with smooth blue-gray Luftwaffe fliegerblau (flyer's blue), as used on early helmets. It was then repainted in the same color, but with the textured style paint used by the Luftwaffe later in the war. This covered the national colors decal, but the Luftwaffe eagle was cleaned off. After this, the helmet then saw more service, which wore off a lot of the paint on the top half of the helmet, and even wore through to the steel, giving it a great worn patina that is impossible to duplicate. The original Luftwaffe decal is probably retained at about 30%, but is undeniably the Luftwaffe eagle.

During or just after the war, the helmet was captured by a USGI, who then later painted where it was captured on the top of the helmet in white letters with a red drop shadow:

The Roer
Feb. '45

The Roer River in the Netherlands between Roermond and Düren was crossed by the U.S. Ninth Army in February 1945 as part of "Operation Grenade", which marked the start of the Allied Invasion of Germany. As a result of the operation, the German forces were surrounded, and 50,000 were captured as prisoners of war, so there would have been ample opportunities to capture service worn helmets. The liner of the helmet is actually named to Gefr. NOSS, an enlisted soldier with the rank of Gefreiter (Exempted), about the level of a U.S. Army Corporal.

Due to the repainting of the helmet, unfortunately none of the shell markings are visible. Both the interior and exterior were given the textured paint refinish, which filled up the markings with paint. We can only make out a number 7 on the rear skirt. We did however measure the shell on the outside, which has a 65cm circumference, so this is a size 64 shell. Size 64 is a nice smaller 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.

All three liner split pins are still intact, though they have lost almost all of their original paint due to wear and oxidation. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present and supple. It definitely does show use, with wear around the rim, and some damage to the fingers as well. The original size adjustment string is still present, though some of the leather reinforcements on the fingers have come unglued, and are now hanging on the string. The late war issue galvanized steel liner band is marked on the left outer side with 64 n.A. / 57, indicating that the liner is a size 57, intended for a 64 shell. It is also maker marked and dated faintly on the other side:

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
????
Bln.- Ch'burg 5

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin - Charlottenburg. Unfortunately the date is not visible at all.

The chin strap is present, complete with the buckle and both studs, however the leather is dried and stretched out, showing cracking in many areas. In this delicate condition we do not recommend any attempts to really move it, as it is already cracked partly through at one of the buckle holes, and the leather could fail at any moment.

Overall a very nice totally correct 100% genuine single decal Luftwaffe helmet with a removed second decal, ready to display! We do not get helmets like these very often at all.

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.