M40 Luftwaffe Helmet with Vet Info

Product Description: This M40 Luftwaffe Helmet with Vet Info is an awesome helmet, in near mint condition. The exterior retains nearly all of the original, wartime, textured blue Luftwaffe paint, with normal wear to the rim and on the dome. The Luftwaffe flying eagle and swastika decal is about 98 percent intact, with light age toning. The interior of this M40 Luftwaffe Helmet with Vet Info retains the original liner, which is fitted on an early, reinforced aluminum liner band. The leather is intact, with no damage, and is size stamped “59.” There is no drawstring or chin strap. The leather is neatly inked with the name of the US soldier who took this as a souvenir during WWII: “Cpl. R. C. Southerland, 85th Bn. HQ APO 176, U.S. Army, c/o P.M. NYC NY.” The address “Edward Lee Overman, Presbyterian School, Lynchburg Virginia” is also written in the same hand, in the same green ink. It’s likely that Southerland mailed this to Overman from Europe during the war, just like this! The interior of the skirt is stamped with the lot number “DN108” as well as “Q66” indicating manufacture by Quist and a desirable large size 66. This near mint example of the iconic wartime Luftwaffe helmet would be difficult to upgrade.

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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