Original German WWII Relic Condition Heer Army M35 Double Decal Helmet with Partial Liner and Chinstrap - Size 64 Shell

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a lovely relic condition example of a German WWII M35 helmet, as issued to the Heer (Army), with very desirable "Double Decals". It looks to have seen long exposure to the elements, and is probably a "battlefield pickup", though it was picked up quite a bit of time after the battle was over, possibly years. We unfortunately do not know where it was found, but it still has a fantastic look. As best we can tell it was repainted early in the war with lightly textured panzergrau, replacing the original early war smooth Apfel-grün (apple green), and may have had the decals reapplied.

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. so finding one with both still present is a real treat! The paint is relatively well retained on the exterior, considering the wear, though there are also areas of heavy corrosion from where the paint failed. There are also some areas where the rust goes all the way through the shell. One can picture this sitting on the ground in a forest for years. This has made it impossible to read the original markings, however we measured the exterior of the shell, and it came out to 65cm, so this is a 64cm shell.

The inside of the helmet shows additional paint loss, and there is also a relic condition liner, which is the style with an aluminum liner band with reinforced sides. The inner liner band is still present, and there are still remnants of the original liner present. As a real surprise, the chinstrap is actually still intact! The leather is definitely degraded from age ad exposure, but it has not torn through. It has the correct aluminum studs and buckle for helmet from this period.

Overall a fantastic 100% genuine Relic Condition M35 Double Decal Heer Army helmet with loads of history! 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.