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 about 55% of its heavily applied, hand brushed, camouflage over-paint in random splotches of greens, tans and browns with spots of wear to the underlaying, smooth, Luftwaffe blue/grey paint and the base steel with moderate to heavy surface spotting which blends in with the camouflage scheme. The left side of the helmet has remnants of an early, "droop tailed", Luftwaffe eagle decal with about 20% remaining. The right side of the helmet has remnants of a national tri-color shield decal also with about 20% remaining. All three liner retaining rivets and both inset ventilation bushings are all intact. The interior of the helmet has remnants of an age and usage darkened, tan leather, M31 liner with only a strip of leather remaining around the aluminum liner attachment band. The remains of the liner have darkened to a dark, chocolate brown coloration and the liner has most of a small, handstitched on, white, rayon, label with the red, machine woven, owners name. The liner has no visible size marking. The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped, "245" and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size that has been partially obscured by surface spotting but appears to be, "Q64", indicating manufacture by F.W. Quist, G.m.b.H. Esslingen, size 64. The helmet comes with a torn, chocolate brown chinstrap with a pronged, natural aluminum length adjustment buckle and retaining studs intact. The chinstrap has torn in two and is quite dry and fragile. The chinstrap has the faint, impressed manufacturer’s name, location and date that appears to be, "Gebr. Hast Dresden 1937", and an additional stamped marking, "LBA", indicating, Luftwaffenbekleidungsamt, (Air-Force Clothing Depot)

GRADE **                             PRICE $820.00