Original Items: Only One Lot of 4 Available. Military archaeology, the research for battlefield relics dating to World War 1 and World War 2 is a widespread practice in many areas across the world. In Europe, the fierce battles fought on the Eastern Front during WW2, produced millions of dead soldiers, many of whom lay where they fell. Groups of metal detectors are searching the now serene areas and are locating many items, ranging from guns, ammunition, parts of vehicles, aircraft, bunkers, to human remains of soldiers who were killed during those battles, along with their personal belongings.

The Relic Helmets In This Lot:
- x2 Austrian M1917 Shell: Austria-Hungary purchased about 416,000 German helmets from November 1916 until the end of the war, and also began its own licensed production starting in May 1917. Around a million Stahlhelm of all variants were issued until the end of the war. The Austrian M17 helmet was similar to the German M16 but was colored golden-brown (known as Isonzo-braun), had a cloth chinstrap and had the chinstrap rivet located higher up on the steel shell. From May 1917 till the end of World War I 534,013 were produced, many of which were manufactured at the Krupp plant in Berndorf, Lower Austria.

The shells are ragged and riddled with holes but lovely in their own unique way.

- x2 WWII German M40 Shells: The one shell we all know you’re looking at has lovely post war painted images from an American Paratrooper Unit. These are not war time done and was more than likely painted in the 70s or 80s and done very well. The second shell surprisingly enough retains some paint as well as visible shadows of decals! This was once a lovely double decal helmet.

All 4 helmets are absolutely beautiful in their own unique way. Comes more than ready for further research and display.