Camouflaged M18 Helmet from Both World Wars

Product Description: This camouflaged M18 Helmet is a true war horse of a helmet, that saw service in both World Wars. The story that comes with this piece (free of charge, of course) is that it was picked up in Italy. It’s a true M18 helmet, with no chin strap fittings in the shell as were found on earlier, pre-1918 WWI helmets. This helmet has an absolutely stunning, original red, green and tan camouflage paint pattern (which is termed “Normandy” camouflage pattern by collectors). The camouflage paint finish shows honest wear and has a beautiful, deep patina. This WWII tri-color camouflage was applied over original World War 1 camouflage paint! The lines of the WWI camouflage scheme are visible under the WWII camouflage when viewing the helmet. The interior of this extremely desirable camouflaged M18 still miraculously retains its original World War 1 style liner with intact leather! All three of the original 1918 leather pads are still present, with some minor damages to the tips and drawstring holes. The liner band is made of metal. The inside dome appears to retain the original WWI factory paint, while the inside skirt is also painted with the red green and tan camouflage paint, in a geometric pattern. I have never seen another helmet like this ever. This is a truly unique helmet, with tremendous character and visual appeal. It remains in excellent condition.

Historical Description: When the German Army first marched into war in 1914, it went to the front lines wearing the traditional “Picklehaube” helmets. The war soon developed to necessitate the need for an improved headgear to protect the wearer. The German Army developed the M16 helmet in 1915 and began issuing it in mass quantity to its fighting troops in 1916. The M16 underwent changes to bring about the next model, the M18. Both the M16 and M18 saw use by the German Army during WW1, as well as the interwar years by the Reichswehr and Freikorps. In 1931, a new liner system was developed. The M16 and M18 helmets were in mass supply right up to the time the Nazi Party took control of the German government. During Adolf Hitler’s rearming of the German military in the early 1930’s, the M16 and M18 helmets saw extensive refitting with the newer liner system, fresh paint, and the addition of a centralized decal system for the newly formed Wehrmacht’s respective branches. Decals were generally placed on each side of the helmet, one side being the branch and the other the national colors shield or party shield. In 1935, the M35 helmet was introduced. This new design was lighter and more streamlined than the older style helmets and is what the world now recognizes as the iconic helmet of the German Military. M35 helmets can most easily be identified from the separate rivet ventholes and rolled edges. With the outbreak of war, some changes were made to bring in a new model, the M40. The changes made to this new model was the use of a more matte field grey finish and the vent holes were now integral to the helmets shell. In 1940, the national colors decals and party shields were ordered to be removed. It should be noted that many M35 helmets were brought up to date by repainting them with the matte field grey finish and/or other modifications if necessary. These refitted helmets are what collectors now term “reissue helmets”. The next model helmet to evolve was the M42. The model M42 has the same features of the M40 with the exception of the edges of the helmet not being rolled and remain flared. This was to speed up production and lower cost as the war dragged on and the German economy began changing to a total war economy. In 1943 all decals were ordered to be removed from combat helmets.

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