Original German WWII Luftwaffe Afrikakorps Tropical Camouflage M35 Helmet with 1939 Dated 57cm Relic Liner - Stamped SE64

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic German WWII Model 1935 Luftwaffe Air Force Helmet, which has definitely had a long and interesting service life! It was originally finished with the standard pre-war smooth Fliegerblau (Flyer's Blue) paint on the exterior and interior, and was possibly fitted with decals on both sides. It then looks to have seen service in North Africa, and at the point the decals were removed, and it was given a great lightly textured DAK Afrikakorps "Tropical" dunkelgelb (dark yellow) camouflage paint job, as used in North Africa and the Mediterranean campaigns. After the tropical camouflage was applied, the helmet definitely did see additional service and wear, but still retains about 75% of the tropical Afrika campaign Dunkelgelb (Dark Yellow) camouflage paint. It has had the paint chip away in areas, showing the underlying flyer's blue paint as well as steel in areas. It has a fantastic service worn look that is impossible to duplicate!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 3785 and the interior, left side, apron has the faintly stamped manufacturer's code and size, SE64 indicating that it was manufactured by Sächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G. of Lauter, Germany. The "SE" is barely visible, but comparing the fonts used for the stampings, we are fairly certain it is an SE helmet. Size 64 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. There also is a worn paint marking under the batch number, but we cannot make out what it says.

All three of the original liner split pins are present, and still retain the camouflage paint well, with the worn areas showing the original blue gray paint. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner present, however it is definitely in relic condition, with the leather having shrunk quite a bit, enough to split open the back seam completely. Five of the eight "fingers" are still mostly intact, but stained and in delicate condition, with the top tie still present. The liner band is aluminum, with square aluminum chin strap loops attached to reinforced sides. This is the last pattern before the move to galvanized steel bands, as aluminum was scarce. The left exterior of the liner band is marked 64 n.A 57, indicating that it is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

B. & C.
BERLIN
1939

This liner was made by Biedermann & Czarnikow, a German company who later moved operations to Łódź in occupied Poland to take advantage of the slave labor in the ghetto located there. NSDAP authorities renamed Łódź to Litzmannstadt in honor of the German General Karl Litzmann who had captured the city in the previous World War. This is exactly the right period and type of liner for this very early helmet. There is a small piece of the chinstrap attached to the right side loop on the liner, which is retained by a steel stud.

Overall this is a great example of a Deutsches Afrikorps Lutwaffe M35 Tropical Camouflage Helmet, with long service history. These are becoming harder and harder to find on the market. Sure to appreciate in value over the years!

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.