Original WWII Italian Generale d’Armata M33 Helmet with White Cross General’s Stencil - 59cm Liner & Chinstrap

Original Item: Only One Available. The M33 Helmet (Elmetto Mod. 33 in Italian) is a steel combat helmet designed in the 1930s in Italy, and was the standard combat helmet of the Regio Esercito up to World War II, and of the Esercito Italiano well into the Cold War. Designed by Nicola Leszl for the Mussolini Government, these have become extremely hard to find on the collectors market today, especially WWII examples that have not been refurbished.

This is a tremendous M33 helmet with a period stencil to the front for Generale d’Armata, a former Italian military rank equating to a "full general". It was one of the ranks, along with Field Marshal (Maresciallo d'Italia) and General of the Army (Generale dell'Esercito), that was eligible to hold the appointment of Chief of the General Staff (Capo di Stato Maggiore Generale della Difesa), established in 1925.

The stencil depicts a crowned eagle with a white cross in the center, a bit different from other examples we’ve found which might denote the wearer the General of a specific division or corps. Certainly worthy of further research. The paint shows honest wear with some oxidation coming through across the exterior including around the eagle. 

The original leather liner is retained with small leather reinforcements around the liner tongue holes, and a size perforation, 59. The original leather chinstrap is retained with the correct buckle, although the condition is very crazed and a bit stiff. The rear brim is stamped MM3.

A great General’s M33 helmet, the first we’ve had. Ready for further research and display.