Original Item: Only One Available. This is an incredible all original example of a Rare German early WWII "double decal" Officers Aluminum parade helmet, complete with original liner and chinstrap! It has an early "Droop-Tail" Luftwaffe Eagle decal on the left side, and a "National Colors" decal on the right. The national colors decals were later discontinued and removed from most helmets, so finding one with both decals intact is a real treat! Both decals are still almost completely, and both have a lovely aged yellow look from the lacquer coating used on German decals. The helmet has the correct gray blue Fliegerblau color, which is very well retained, with just some scuffing around the rim, and some small scratches on the outside of the shell.

These aluminum helmets were mainly only issued early in the war, and they were from relatively thin lightweight aluminum, to avoid fatigue during long parades. This also meant they were much less resilient to the passage of time, but this example has come through with flying colors! It does not show much sign of being used or worn at all, and most of the wear is from storage and age.

All four of the original liner split pins are present, with all of the original paint. The helmet has a "Civic" style liner, with a fiber band, felt padding, and a leather 8 finger liner interior. There are 4 cork pads, one around each split pin, just as in the M34 Civic helmets. The leather is still very soft and supple, marked with a 59 ink stamp. There has however been some damage due to what looks to be insect or rodent damage, which has removed some of the leather and felt padding. Also, the top securing tie is missing.

The helmet still has the original correct black patent leather chinstrap, with a snap hook attachment on one end. This conforms to the pattern we have seen on other examples. The hardware is in great shape, however the leather has dried out over the decades, and now is cracked and brittle, especially on the finished side.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine double decal Luftwaffe Officers Parade helmet in really great shape! We do not get helmets like these very often at all. Ready to display!

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.