L023963 M38 SINGLE DECAL PARATROOPER'S HELMET. (Stahlhelm M38 für Fallschirmjäger)

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, (Iron and Foundry Works), 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, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), 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. As a result of observations of the Russian experimentation with the newly developing paratroop personnel in 1928, the Germans began serious consideration of also developing paratroop units and plans were drawn up for formation of such units in late 1935. Both the Luftwaffe, (Air-Force), and the Heer, (Army), eventually established paratrooper units, consisting of voluntary personnel, on January 29^TH 1936 and March 31^ST 1937 respectively and a paratroop training school was established at Stendal in early 1937. Originally development of special clothing and equipment was undertaken by both branches of service to provide the paratroopers with functional items specifically designed with parachute jumps in mind, until January 1^ST 1939 when all the paratrooper units were transferred to control of the Luftwaffe. One of the items developed for the paratroopers was a specially designed helmet first introduced in 1935. This first pattern helmet was found unsuitable and a second pattern was introduced on June 16^TH 1938 and remained in use until the end of the war with minor variations. The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsports Verband, (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. Early in the war it was soon realized that the smooth finished, paints and the national eagle and tri-colored decals applied to the helmets were too visible and the regulations of June 12^TH 1940 discontinued the use of the national tri-color decal and dictated that the national eagle was to be in a subdued blue/grey coloration. The June 12^TH 1940 regulations also altered the original, smooth finished, field-grey paint to a slightly rough textured, blue/grey paint for front line personnel. 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.

GRADE **1/2                             PRICE $4,075.00

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