Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic VERY early example of a German WWII M35 helmet, as issued to the Heer (Army), with very desirable "Double Decals". This stamped sheet steel construction helmet definitely looks to have seen only light service during the war, and still retains correct original early war Apfel-grün (apple green) paint. This is correctly "semi-gloss", and would be replaced by textured Panzergrau later in the war, however this example was never repainted! It also still retains both decals, which are in really fantastic shape. It does look like they were overpainted to "sanitize" the helmet at one point, but the paint was then carefully removed. We very rarely get in early helmets in such great condition, and it is unlikely that we will have another any time soon!

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. The decal on this helmet however escaped that fate, so it still has both decals. The National Colors is retained at about 75%, showing overall wear from the cleaning process, and the colors are still vibrant. The Heer Eagle fared a bit worse, and is retained at about 60%, showing overall wear. We have confirmed with other examples that this is the correct style for this maker. Definitely lots of history here!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is heat lot number stamped 3606 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size, ET66 indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerk AG of Thale, located in the Harz district in Saxony, Germany. There is also the letter S over the heat lot, and a large letter A to the right. 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.

Looking inside the helmet, there is still a CLEAR dome stamp on the inside of the helmet, which reads:

Abgenommen
1935
Bekleidungsamt
für Heer u. Marine

This indicates acceptance in 1935 by the Army and Navy clothing office, making this a FIRST YEAR PRODUCTION Shell.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, however they look to be very early issue with brass heads, and have lost all of the paint on the exterior. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, with all eight of the original fingers intact, and an intact top tie string. The leather is still soft and supple, but does look to have been painted or coated with a black substance of some type, which ahs now worn away in most areas. It definitely looks to have seen at least moderate service during the war. The liner band is aluminum, with square aluminum chin strap loops attached without any side reinforcements, which explains why the band is bent somewhat around the loops. Later Pre-war examples would have a double layer of aluminum on the side to prevent bending.

The left exterior of the liner band is marked 66 n.A / 58, indicating that this is a size 58 liner for a size 66 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
1937
Bln.- Ch'burg 5

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin - Charlottenburg, in the year 1937, which fits right into the pre-war period. This is exactly the right type of liner for this very early helmet.

The attached chin strap features the correct pre war aluminum buckle and attachment studs, which were later replaced with galvanized steel. The leather is still in very good condition, relatively soft and supple, with no cracks or tears we can see. It does have a bit of green paint on part of it, and the "buckle" side looks to have been replaced at some point, as it is much newer looking than the rest of the chinstrap.

Overall a fantastic 100% genuine very early M35 Double Decal Heer Army helmet, still retaining the original paint and some great markings! It looks great, with a fantastic patina! 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.