Original German WWII Named M42 Textured Paint Helmet with USGI Added Insignia and 1940 Dated 57cm Liner - stamped NS64

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely all original example of a late war German Model 42 Steel helmet, which was brought back home by a USGI after the war. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet had a lovely olive green textured paint job applied during the war, which looks quite thick, and covered up any decals and paint that were already on the helmet. The original paint can only be seen on the interior dome of the helmet, and on a small panel under the rear skirt, which was not painted over when the textured paint was applied. The name H. Brose is written there, which is probably the name of the German soldier who wore it. After it was captured by a USGI, to increase the display potential, they painted on a Tri-Color shield with a Swas inside, which is not a correct NSDAP insignia, but definitely made for a great story when the helmet came back to the US.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is lot number stamped D292 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer's code and size NS64, indicating that it was manufactured by Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, of Schwerte, Germany. 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.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, complete with most of the textured paint present on the tops. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner present, however it is definitely a bit degraded, with two of the "fingers" having broken off, though the original torn top tie string is still present under the liner. We can see staining and dirt on the helmet, which looks to have seen long service, and then was probably picked up off the battlefield a bit later by the USGI who decorated and brought it home. The later war issue galvanized steel liner band is marked on the left outer side with 64 n.A. / 56, indicating that the liner band is a size 56, intended for a 64 shell. The right side has the maker information stamped, which is a bit dirty but still mostly legible without cleaning:

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

There is a small remnant of the chinstrap on the right attachment loop, which is only about an inch long, held in place by an aluminum stud.

A lovely M42 helmet with a textured paint job, captured and decorated by a USGI. A great bring back item from WWII!

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.