Original German WWII Heer Army M35 Single Decal Steel Helmet with 1931 Dated Liner - marked EF66

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good service-used all original example of a German WWII M35 "Single Decal" helmet, issued to the Heer (Army). This stamped sheet steel construction helmet looks to have seen long service during the war, and most likely originally had an early war Apfelgrün (apple green) finish. During its service life it was repainted with a lightly textured panzergrau field gray paint on the exterior and interior, which now shows wear itself. There are some scratches and scuffs down to the steel, and also areas where the paint has heavily flaked off due to weathering on the lower rim. The left side of the helmet still bears an original Heer Eagle decal, which is retained at about 90%, and really looks great, probably having been put on late in the war. Loads of history and a lovely patina on this helmet!

Due to having been repainted on the interior, we unfortunately cannot see the batch number, but the maker and size stamp is still legible, EF66. This indicates that it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda Germany in size 66. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 3/8.

All three original liner retaining pins are intact, all retaining the original repainted finish. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all 8 "fingers" mostly intact, however they are definitely a bit delicate, with heavy cracking and crazing. The original top tie is gone, and the leather has a lovely aged color, so it looks to have seen a good amount of use during the war. The outer side of the mid war galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 66, indicating that this is for a size 64 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, however it hard to read due to oxidation:

D.R.P.
SCHUBERTH-WERK
BRAUNSCHWEIG
1931

The leather of the liner actually retains a maker’s stamp reading:

SCHUBERTH-WERKE A.G.
19 66 31
BRAUNSCHWEIG

The name Gömer is also faintly written on the liner, certainly the solider who wore it. The original chinstrap is gone, with one of the ends still retained on the bale.

Overall a nice 100% genuine M35 Single Decal Heer Army helmet, with a great service worn look! M35 helmets of this quality are always hard to find on the market. 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.

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.

More than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed, replacing the multi-piece riveted vent with one stamped directly into the steel. Later, in 1942 the rolled steel rim was removed from the pattern to further expedite production.