Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very attractive original German WWII Kriegsmarine Navy M42 single decal steel helmet, stamped EF66 for manufacture by Emaillierwerke A.G. of Fulda. It retains its textured later war Panzergrau blue gray finish, approximately 80% of its gold Kriegsmarine eagle decal, complete size 58cm M31 liner, and original style chinstrap. Particularly interesting are the painted German surname Koschützke on the rear skirt and the later inscription Burnett, LJ / May 12, 1945 on the liner, giving this helmet considerable research potential.

The stamped sheet steel M42 shell retains its original textured blue gray Panzergrau finish very well. It shows only light service wear, with no major dents or other significant structural damage.

Steel helmets of this type were used by Kriegsmarine personnel serving ashore, including Küstenartillerie, or Coastal Artillery, and other Navy installations. Kriegsmarine helmets could also be held aboard vessels for personnel going ashore or performing duties requiring steel helmets.

The left side carries a gold Kriegsmarine national eagle decal. It remains approximately 80% intact and shows scattered scratching and general service wear.

At some point a lacquer coating was applied over the decal, apparently in an effort to preserve it. This coating has yellowed somewhat with age. The decal itself has been closely examined and retains the strong "cyanide" yellow-gold coloration associated with Kriegsmarine examples. We do not see indications in the worn areas suggesting that it is simply an age toned silver Heer eagle.

The rear interior neck guard is lot number stamped:

9810

The left interior apron is marked:

EF66

The EF maker code identifies Emaillierwerke A.G. of Fulda, Germany, while 66 denotes the shell size. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 3/8. Size 66 shells are much harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

Also painted in white on the rear skirt is the German surname:

Koschützke

This may represent a period owner's name, although without supporting documentation we cannot establish who Koschützke was or when the name was applied.

All three liner retaining pins remain intact and retain their textured Panzergrau finish particularly well.

The helmet retains an M31 leather liner with all 8 fingers intact. The leather remains close to its original natural color and shows only light wear, with no significant tearing. The original top securing tie is also still present.

The galvanized steel liner band is marked on the left side:

66 n.A / 58

This identifies a size 58cm liner assembly intended for a size 66 helmet shell. The leather itself is additionally stamped with a 58 inside a circle.

The opposite side of the liner band carries the manufacturer and date information:

SCHUBERTH-WERKE K.-G.
D. R. P.
1940
BRAUNSCHWEIG

The liner band therefore predates the M42 shell pattern. Wartime reuse of existing components and stocks is possible, but from the surviving markings alone we cannot determine exactly when this 1940 dated liner assembly was installed in the helmet.

The front of the liner bears an additional handwritten inscription:

Burnett, LJ
May 12, 1945

The date falls immediately after the end of the war in Europe and makes the inscription particularly intriguing. It is possible that Burnett was an Allied serviceman or postwar owner associated with the helmet's recovery, but there is presently no documentation establishing that history, so the inscription is preserved as an interesting research lead rather than definitive bring back provenance.

The chinstrap is present and fitted with a later war painted steel buckle together with early type aluminum attachment studs. The strap is currently stretched across the front brim of the helmet.

The longer section retains all 13 adjustment holes, confirming that it has not been shortened. The leather has developed an attractive aged and wrinkled brown surface but remains free from major tears or other obvious structural damage.

The end of the long section carries a faint maker marking:

O. Breitschuh
Eisleben

Otto Breitschuh of Eisleben was a wartime manufacturer of German helmet chinstraps, adding another identifiable original component to the assembly.

Overall condition is very good. The textured Panzergrau finish is strongly retained, the Kriegsmarine eagle remains approximately 80% present, all three liner pins retain their finish, and the size 58cm leather liner is unusually complete and well preserved. The chinstrap is likewise substantially complete and clearly maker marked.

For the Kriegsmarine or German WWII helmet collector, this EF66 M42 has an especially appealing combination of features: a strong gold Navy eagle decal, textured original finish, large size 66 shell, complete size 58cm liner, Otto Breitschuh chinstrap, painted Koschützke name, and the dated Burnett, LJ / May 12, 1945 inscription. The named interior provides excellent research potential without requiring an unsupported bring back attribution, while the overall completeness makes this a particularly impressive Kriegsmarine helmet.

The German Stahlhelm:
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.

The M1935 design was slightly modified in 1940 to simplify its construction, the manufacturing process now incorporating more automated stamping methods. The principal change was to stamp the ventilator hole mounts directly onto the shell, rather than utilizing separate fittings. In other respects, the M1940 helmet was identical to the M1935. The Germans still referred to the M1940 as the M1935, while the M1940 designation were given by collectors.

The last wartime upgrade to the standard helmet took place on 6 July 1942 at the request of the Army High Command. The rolled edge found on M1935 and M1940 helmets was discontinued as a measure of economy. On 1 August 1942 the first M1942 helmets were placed into production, and this was the model produced until late in the war, when most factories were captured or stood idle due to material shortages.