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 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. 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 18^TH 1934, and adopted for wear by the Luftwaffe on March 1^ST 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 12^TH 1940 discontinued the use of the national tri-color decal and further regulations of August 28^TH 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.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The stamped, sheet steel construction helmet retains over 95% of its slightly rough textured, Luftwaffe blue/grey paint with a couple of small spots of wear to the base metal with moderate surface spotting. The left side of the helmet has a second pattern, (circa 1936/1937-1945), Luftwaffe eagle decal which is retained about 80% with a couple of fair sized scrapes and scuffs. The eagle has taken on a golden/tan patina. All three of the liner retaining rivets are intact. The interior of the helmet has a light tan, M31 leather liner with all eight fingers and the original tie string intact. The liner shows moderate chafe wear to the edges and minor moisture spotting but is in overall very good, supple condition and is well marked with a faint, purple size inkstamp, "56". The interior crown of the helmet has a faint, illegible, black, oval, Beschaffungsamt, (Procurement Office), inkstamp. The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped, "31432", and the interior left side apron is stamped with the manufacturer’s code and size that appears to be, "EF64", indicating manufacture by Emaillierwerk, AG Fulda, size 64. The helmet comes complete with a blackened leather chinstrap with a natural steel, pronged, length adjustment buckle and retaining studs intact. The chinstrap is in overall good condition with minor chafe wear. The chinstrap has no visible manufacturer’s markings but is most probably a post war replacement. Helmet is excellent, just needs a proper original chinstrap added.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $958.00