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 Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), the SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), the SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units) and eventually the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), were also allocated quantities of the assorted models of helmets through-out the war. Originally SS personnel didn’t utilized any helmet insignia until the first pattern runic SS helmet decals with silver runes on a black field were introduced on February 23^RD 1934, but were only worn for a short time by SS-VT personnel. On August 12^TH 1935 the black runic SS helmet decal on a silver shield shaped base and the NSDAP party shield decal were both introduced for wear by all SS personnel. Regulations of March 21^ST 1940 dictated that the NSDAP party shield decal was to be removed from all helmets and further regulations of November 1^ST 1943 abolished the SS runic decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to. Of Note: The SS runic decal underwent a minor modification sometime early in the war with the runes being somewhat less angular.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The stamped sheet steel construction helmet only retains about 45% of its original smooth parade green paint with areas of wear to the base metal with moderate to heavy surface spotting and pitting. The right side of the helmet has an early pattern SS runic decal, as introduced on August 12^TH 1935, with sharply angled black runes on a silver shield shaped base with a narrow black outer border edging. The runic decal is only retained about 40% with a heavy chafe wear and surface spotting that has obscured most of the design. The left side of the helmet has the NSDAP party shield decal which is only retained about 55% with heavy lifting bubbles and surface spotting. The crown of the helmet has a fair sized crack and the reverse neck guard has a small puncture hole. All three flat headed liner retaining rivets and both inset ventilation bushings are all intact. The interior of the helmet has an age and usage darkened, M31 leather liner with all eight fingers and the original tie string intact. The liner shows moderate wear through-out with moderate surface cracking, one finger tie string hole has torn open and the leather is very dry, stiff and fragile. The liner has no visible size markings. The reverse interior neck guard apron is well marked with a stamped serial number that appears to be, "4188", and the interior left side apron has the stamped manufacturers code and size that appears to be, "ET66", indicating manufacture by Eisen-und Hüttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz, size 66. The helmet comes complete with a blackened leather chinstrap with a natural aluminum length adjustment buckle and retaining studs intact. The chinstrap shows moderate chafe wear and light surface cracking and the leather is fairly dry and stiff. The buckle retaining stitching has let go. The chinstrap is well marked with the faint, impressed manufacturers name location and date that appears to be, "Henseler & Co. Ulm 1937". Liner and chinstrap, looked restored to the helmet. Nice original decals & shell.

GRADE **1/4                             PRICE $1,720.00