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, (Armed Forces), 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet retains about 80% of its slightly rough textured, age and usage darkened, field-gray over-paint with small spots of wear to the base steel with light to moderate surface spotting. The left side of the helmet has an early, grey 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, which is retained about 90% with a couple of small scrapes and scuffs. All three liner retaining rivets and both inserted ventilation bushings are all intact. The interior of the helmet has also been over-painted with the slightly rough textured, age and usage darkened, field-gray paint and has an age and usage darkened, M31 tan leather liner with all eight fingers intact. The liner tie string is absent. The liner is in overall good condition with light chafe wear to the bottom edges and a small piece of the leather cut away from one finger. The liner is well marked with a faint, illegible, black size inkstamp. The interior, reverse, neck guard apron has a faint, stamped, serial number that appears to be, "20932", and the interior, left side, apron has the faint, stamped manufacturer’s code and size that appears to be, "E.F.62" indicating manufacture by Emaillierwerk, AG Fulda, size 62. The helmet comes complete with a shortened, blackened leather chinstrap with matte grey painted, pronged, magnetic sheet metal, length adjustment buckle and retaining studs intact. The chinstrap shows light to moderate chafe wear and some light surface cracking, and is still long enough to flip up over the forward visor. The chinstrap has no visible manufacturer’s markings.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $1,310.00