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 Reichsmarine era crossed anchor 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. Kriegsmarine regulations of July 17^TH 1941 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 age and usage darkened, smooth finish, field-grey paint with numerous small scratches and scuffs revealing the base steel with light to moderate surface spotting. The left side of the helmet has an early, "wide wing", Wehrmacht eagle shield decal featuring a golden yellow eagle with down-swept wings, clutching a canted swastika in it’s talons on a black shield shaped base. The decal is retained about 70% with a couple of fair sized scrapes and scuffs. All three liner retaining rivets are intact. The interior of the helmet has a heavily age and usage darkened, M31 tan, leather liner with seven of the original eight fingers still intact. The liner shows heavy chafe wear to the bottom edge resulting in some large tears and the balance of the liner shows heavy surface cracking and dry rot through-out. The liner is quite dry and fragile and the tie string is absent. The liner has no visible size markings. The interior crown of the helmet has a faint, illegible, black, oval, "Beschaffungsamt" (Procurement Office), inkstamp. The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is well marked with a stamped serial number, "576" and the interior left side apron has the stamped, manufacturer’s code and size, "ET62",indicating manufacture by Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, size 62. The reverse, interior, neck guard apron has faint, illegible, hand etched script which appears to include the owner’s name. The chinstrap is absent.

GRADE **3/4                             PRICE $2,360.00