Original German WWII Heer Army M35 Former Double Decal KIA Bullet Damaged Helmet with Replaced 1942 Dated 58cm Liner & Chinstrap - Stamped Q66

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare all original example of a German WWII Model 1935 "Former Double Decal" helmet, as issued to the Heer (Army). As an early war helmet, it was originally painted with early Apfelgrün (apple green) paint, which is the early war color with more green in the mix. It also was equipped with "double decals", with a Heer Eagle on the left side and a National Colors on the right. 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.

At some point in its life, this helmet had both decals removed from the helmet, though it still retains the original apple green paint on both the interior and exterior of the helmet. However, it also has a bullet entrance hole on the front of the helmet, as well as a dent in the rear of the helmet where the bullet impacted the interior, but was not able to break through. The steel is bent inwards on the front, and there is some cracking of the steel as well. Given the size of the hole, it looks to be .30cal or possibly smaller. If the helmet was being worn at the time, the wearer would have definitely suffered serious injury or possibly death.

The helmet looks to have been taken out of service, however it was later fitted with a new mid war liner and chin strap. We do not know what type of service it would have seen, already having a hole in the front. Possibly home guard or civil use. It really has a fantastic "been there" look, making this a wonderful helmet with some great unique aspects!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 819 and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer's code and size, Q66. This indicates it was manufactured by F.W. Quist G.m.b.H in Esslingen, Germany in size 66. This is a nice large size that can accommodate size 58cm and 59cm liners, or 7 1/4 - 7 3/8 US. Shells of this large size are harder to find, and more valuable to a collector.

The left front of the helmet shows a small caliber bullet entrance hole, which has removed the paint and bent the steel inwards. It clipped the top of the liner band, tore through the liner in the front, and then passed out of the rear of the helmet right next to the hole for the rear liner split pin. It went through the liner again as it exited, and the steel of the liner and the shell are both bent outwards. The size of the holes are consistent with a .30 caliber bullet, probably from one of the many rifles and machine guns in service during the war. The angle looks to have been from slightly above the helmet. Close inspection of the paint, style and aging of the edges lead us to be very confident that this totally 100% genuine.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, and look to have been replaced, as they have textured Panzergrau paint on the tops, which looks to be from the factory. It was almost certainly refitted to the shell after being bullet damaged, possibly later in the war when even a damaged helmet was better than nothing. It still retains all eight of of its "fingers" intact, though the top tie is missing, and the leather shows staining and wear consistent when service. There are some areas that are now a bit stiff, and there is some wear and cracking over the inner band. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 66 n.A / 58, indicating that this is a size 58 liner for a size 66 shell. The right side has the full maker information lightly stamped:

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
1942
Bln.- Ch'burg 5

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin - Charlottenburg, in the year 1942, which fits right into the mid war period. There is a very nice chinstrap attached to the liner, which still has all 13 of the size adjustment holes present. It is the correct mid-late war type with galvanized steel hardware, and it looks to have a faded maker marking on one end, which we cannot read. The leather is still supple, but does show wear from age and use.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine M35 Former Double Decal Heer Army helmet that has led a very interesting life! The period service wear and bullet damage on this gives it an absolutely unique look! This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time!

Overall a fantastic 100% genuine former double decal Heer helmet that was shot through in combat, ready to research and display! We do not get helmets like these very often at all. 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.

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.