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 70% of its original, smooth, age darkened, Luftwaffe blue/grey paint with numerous small scrapes and scuffs to the base steel with light to moderate surface spotting, primarily to the crown area. The left side of the helmet has a second pattern, (circa 1936/1937-1945), silvery/white, Luftwaffe eagle decal, clutching a canted swastika in one talon. The decal is only retained about 35% with heavy chafe wear and appears more like an outline with no discernable detailing. The right side of the helmet has a national tri-color shield decal, in black, white and red which is retained about 65% with a few fair sized scrapes and scuffs. All three liner retaining rivets and both inset ventilation bushings are all intact. The interior of the helmet has an age and usage darkened, M31 tan leather liner with all eight of its fingers and the original tie string intact. The liner shows light to moderate chafe wear to the edges but the leather is still fairly supple. The liner is well marked with a black size inkstamp, "58". The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped, "1408" and the interior, left side apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, "Q66" indicating manufacture by F.W. Quist, G.m.b.H. of Esslingen, size 66. The chinstrap is absent.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $1,045.00