BACKGROUND: 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, 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 an effort to reduced construction time and labor costs minor modifications were introduced in March 1940 resulting in the M40 helmet. Further construction modifications were undertaken in August 1942 resulting in the M42 helmet. Originally the Third Reich national tri-color helmet decal was introduced on March 14^TH 1933 for wear on the left side of the helmet to replace the Reichswehr era state shield insignia. Regulations of February 17^TH 1934 introduced the Wehrmacht eagle decal and the national tri-color decal was shifted to the right side of the helmet with the Wehrmacht eagle decal positioned on the left hand side. Regulations of March 21^ST 1940 dictated that the national tri-color decal was to be removed from all helmets and further regulations of August 28^TH 1943 abolished the Wehrmacht eagle decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to. Of Note: Although the German army introduced reversible white/splinter pattern camouflage helmet covers in early 1942 there were not issued in enough quantity to outfit all the soldiers that required them for winter camouflage and as a result water based, white wash was issued enabling the troops to over-paint their helmets for winter usage and remove the white wash in the spring as required.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet retains about 90% of a hand brushed, white-washed, winter camouflage over-paint with a fair sized area of surface spotting bleed through at the crown and a few small scrapes and scuffs. The white-wash paint appears to have been applied over at least three other coats of paint with spots of the original field-grey paint and two different shades of rough textured, grey camouflage over-paint visible to the interior. The left side of the helmet has a later, black lined, Wehrmacht eagle shield decal featuring a silver eagle with down-swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons on a black, shield, shaped base. The decal was carefully painted around when the camouflage paints were applied and is retained about 85% with a few small scrapes and scuffs and light age yellowing. All three liner retaining rivets are all intact. The interior of the helmet has an age and usage darkened, M31, tan, leather liner with all eight of its original fingers and the original tie string intact. The liner shows light chafe wear to the bottom edge and moderate age and usage toning but the leather is still quite supple. The liner has no visible size marking. The two different shades of heavily applied, rough textured paint have obscure any stamped serial number and the stamped manufacturer’s code and size marking, although the shell appears to be a size 64. The helmet comes with the longer section of a blackened leather chinstrap with the natural alloy, retaining stud intact. The shorter buckle section of the chinstrap is absent. The chinstrap shows light chafe wear and surface cracking. The chinstrap has no visible manufacturer’s markings. This helmet came back as a war trophy with a British veteran in 1945! Very rare to find an original winter camo with painted around decal. Untouched and Superb!

GRADE ***3/4                             PRICE $5,355.00