Original Finnish Continuation War German M35 Helmet with Sanitized Infantry Regiment 46 Skull Paint Job - EF64

Original Item: One of a Kind. Some years back, IMA imported a very large number of German and Hungarian helmets out of Finland, most of which were manufactured in the 1950s. These had been in service for decades, eventually being used by the civil defense, and had been refit numerous times. Among these were many German WWI and WWII production helmets, as well as Hungarian M1938 Export helmets, which were sent to Finland during the WWII era to help with their war against the Soviet Union. These were supplied both before the Winter War of November 1939 – March 1940, and during the Continuation War of June 1941 – September 1944, which began shortly after the German invasion of the Soviet Union. As Germany had tossed aside the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of non-aggression in June 1941, they could now more openly support Finland and sent them more arms.

This is a lovely example of what believe to be one of those German M35 helmets supplied to Finland during the Continuation War, however it is definitely NOT one of the ones that came out of Finland recently, which were all repeatedly refurbished for civil defense use. This helmet instead looks to still have the original paint on it from the continuation war era. During this time Finnish Infantry Regiment 46 utilized white camouflage designs with a white skull on front, leading to their nickname of the Pääkallopataljoona (skull battalion), utilizing the "Death's Head" insignia that had been used by Hussar units throughout Europe for centuries. This helmet still retains the camouflage on the helmet, however the skull on the front looks to have been "sanitized", most likely due to the perceived connection to the infamous German Waffen SS.

Otherwise, the paint is very well retained, with a lovely patina showing age and use. We have examined it closely and tested it with a UV lamp (black light), and found it to have no reaction to UV light. Most modern white paint has phosphor compounds added to make the color look "brighter", which is why they fluoresce, but we did not see any of that on this helmet. It definitely looks to be all original and in period. We also assume that anyone who was attempting to make a replica of one of these helmets would not have removed the skull from the front. Definitely a great helmet with a fantastic history!

Aside from the paint job, the shell used for this helmet is definitely a WWII era production German M35 shell, which were supplied to Finland in some numbers, sometimes just as shells. They were often repainted in Finland to match the colors that they used on their military equipment. It has the correct rolled steel edge and rivets installed in the vents. The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 3844, and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer's code and size, EF64 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Emaillerwerke AG, of Fulda Germany in size 64. The marking is a bit faint due to oxidation and wear on the interior. This is a nice medium 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.

The liner installed in the helmet definitely is a Finnish manufactured liner, and is likely not be the first liner that was installed in the helmet, though it does look quite old and well used. It is still held in place by the original German WWII split pins, which show paint loss and oxidation on the interior. The chinstrap attaches directly to the liner and is in very good condition.

This is the first time we have had one of these Finnish used German helmets that still retains the original period paint job, and is one of the very few with Finnish Infantry Regiment 46 paint on it, we have seen, even though it has been "Sanitized". This is a collector's and research opportunity that is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon. Ready to research and display!

This helmet was in use with the Finnish Infantry Regiment 46 during the Continuation War from 1941-1944. The skulls were noted known among the Finns that some sources claim the I/JR 46's unofficial nickname was "Pääkallopataljoona", skull battalion. This regiment was commanded by Major Alfons Aleksander Sundblad and the skull was it's unofficial insignia.

The use of the skull by the Finns on the M40 helmet can also be seen in a period photograph of the Finnish 4th Division, Kev Os. 4 (Light Unit Number 4) whose primary role was armed reconnaissance to protect the main infantry body. Kev Os.4 (4th Kevyt Osasto) rapidly acquired the nickname Belaya Smjert, or "White Death," from their Soviet opponents in the 1939–1940 Winter War between Finland and the USSR following a series of deadly hit and run attacks by the unit's highly mobile ski troops. The members of Kev Os. 4 enthusiastically adopted the nickname, with many painting a skull and bones on their helmet fronts to further terrify their enemies. Despite inflicting terrible losses on the invading Soviets, the Finns had lost the Winter War by March, 1940. The Finns would later join the Axis forces in their June, 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, hoping to recover territory lost in the previous treaty with Moscow. The skull painted helmets went with...

The Continuation War was a conflict fought by Finland and NSDAP Germany, as co-belligerents, against the Soviet Union (USSR) from 1941 to 1944, during World War II. In Russian historiography, the war is called the Soviet–Finnish Front of the Great Patriotic War.[Note 4] Germany regarded its operations in the region as part of its overall war efforts on the Eastern Front and provided Finland with critical material support and military assistance.

The Continuation War began 15 months after the end of the Winter War, also fought between Finland and the USSR. There have been numerous reasons proposed for the Finnish decision to invade, with regaining territory lost during the Winter War being regarded as the most common. Other justifications for the conflict included President Ryti's vision of a Greater Finland and Commander-in-Chief Mannerheim's desire to retake Karelia. Plans for the attack were developed jointly between the Wehrmacht and a faction of Finnish political and military leaders with the rest of the government remaining ignorant. Despite the co-operation in this conflict, Finland never formally signed the Tripartite Pact that had established the Axis powers and justified its alliance with Germany as self-defense.

In June 1941, with the start of the German invasion of the Soviet Union, the Finnish Defense Forces launched their offensive following Soviet airstrikes. By September 1941, Finland had reversed its post–Winter War concessions to the Soviet Union by retaking the Karelian Isthmus and Ladoga Karelia. However, the Finnish Army continued the offensive past the pre-1939 border with the conquest of East Karelia, including Petrozavodsk, as well as halting only around 30–32 km (19–20 mi) from the center of Leningrad, where they participated in besieging the city by cutting its northern supply routes and digging in until 1944. In Lapland, joint German–Finnish forces failed to capture Murmansk or cut the Kirov (Murmansk) Railway, a transit route for lend-lease equipment to the USSR. The conflict stabilized with only minor skirmishes until the tide of the war turned against the Germans and the Soviet Union's strategic Vyborg–Petrozavodsk Offensive in June 1944. The attack drove the Finns from most of the territories they had gained during the war, but the Finnish Army halted the offensive in August 1944.

Hostilities between Finland and the USSR ended with a ceasefire, which was called on 5 September 1944, formalized by the signing of the Moscow Armistice on 19 September 1944. One of the conditions of this agreement was the expulsion, or disarming, of any German troops in Finnish territory, which led to the Lapland War between the former co-belligerents. World War II was concluded formally for Finland and the minor Axis powers with the signing of the Paris Peace Treaties in 1947. The treaties resulted in the restoration of borders per the 1940 Moscow Peace Treaty, the ceding of the municipality of Petsamo (Russian: Pechengsky raion) and the leasing of Porkkala Peninsula to the USSR. Furthermore, Finland was required to pay $300 million in war reparations to the USSR.

63,200 Finns and 23,200 Germans died or went missing during the war in addition to 158,000 and 60,400 wounded, respectively. Estimates of dead or missing Soviets range from 250,000 to 305,000 while 575,000 have been estimated to have been wounded or fallen sick.

The Model 1938 Hungarian helmet was one of the most common types used by the Finnish Army during the Continuation War of 1941-44. The Finns originally wanted to acquire the German M35 during the Winter War of 1939-40 to supplement their old stock of German WWI M17 & M18 helmets however, the German government refused the order and sent it to the Hungarians instead. Apparently this was done for political reasons as the Germans were technically still "allied" to the Soviets (who the Finns were fighting) during the Winter War of 1939-40. Though the order was placed in December 1939, the first helmet wasn't shipped until after the end of the Winter War in March 1940, which is why they were used extensively during the Continuation War of 1941-44.

Once hostilities broke out between the Soviet Union and NSDAP Germany, they were then able to supply the Finnish with German helmets, usually those that were in need of refitting, as Finland really only need the shells, not the liners and chinstrap. When received they were painted to match the Finnish uniform colors.

History of the German & Finnish Alliance-

In 1938 Finland became very concerned with Stalin's Soviet expansionism and turned to Great Britain and France for support. Both Countries were under supplied themselves so Finland, perhaps reluctantly turned to NSDAP Germany for aid. AH was swift to assist supplying great quantities of materiel including thousands of German Battle Helmets.

The Russians invaded Finland in 1939 driving deep into the country. The Finns resisted with amazing tenacity that has been the subject of legend and the wonderful WW2 Movie "THE WINTER WAR" (offered by IMA). The Russians paid a very heavy price and sued for peace in early 1940 keeping the invaded areas of Finland. Finland totally exhausted agreed with great regret.

In the summer of 1941 AH's NSDAP War Machine invaded the Soviet Union driving everything before them. Finland whom had received so much help from Germany then rose up and drove the Soviet presence out of Finland. However Finland would not "invade" the Soviet Union, they declared themselves not to be aggressors.

It is true however that the Germans recruited great numbers of Finnish "Volunteers" for their "SS UNITS" that did invade Mother Russia but that was true of all the overrun European Countries and even some others, still independent including apparently England and the United States, although these number were said to be very low.

At the close of WW2 with Germany defeated Finland was highly penalized by the Soviet Union, again gave up the lost territory of 1939/40 but did manage to retain it's independence unlike so much of Eastern Europe.