M40 Normandy Camouflage Helmet – ET62

Product Description: This is a rare and authentic WWII German M40 Normandy Camouflage Helmet, produced by Eisenhüttenwerke, Thale, and marked ET62 (indicating a size 62 shell). This helmet, originally issued in the standard field gray finish, was later hand-camouflaged in preparation for combat in the Normandy campaign, making it a highly sought-after piece for collectors of battlefield-used relics. The helmet features a thick, hand-applied Normandy camouflage paint scheme, designed to provide better concealment in the varied terrain of Northern France. The camo paint exhibits natural wear, with chipping and fading consistent with age and field use, yet the colors remain stable and vibrant, retaining their original battlefield-applied character. Stamped ET62, confirming manufacture by Eisenhüttenwerke, Thale. Marked of the lot number ?23. Inside the rear skirt, the helmet is personally marked “Gren. Leitsch,” indicating it was once issued to a German Grenadier (infantryman) Leitsch. The helmet retains its original liner, which is dry and brittle from age but remains mostly intact. Some of the leather fingers are broken, consistent with prolonged field use. The liner’s wear and patina add to its authenticity, making this a true combat-worn artifact. This M40 Normandy Camo Helmet is a standout example of an original, battle-worn German combat helmet, directly linked to one of WWII’s most famous and brutal campaigns. With its authentic hand-applied camouflage, combat wear, and named attribution, this helmet is an exceptional piece for collectors of WWII militaria.

Historical Description: The helmets used by WWII German soldiers were issued with a variety of solid paint colors applied at the factory. Different units deployed to combat zones had different methods to break up the iconic German helmet silhouette, for camouflage purposes. Some units issued fabric covers or camouflage nets. In other units, helmets were painted with camouflage colors. Among the most widely utilized camouflage paint finishes were solid tan for desert environments, solid white for winter use, and the tri-color camouflage scheme known to collectors as “Normandy” pattern camouflage. This camouflage style was certainly used in Normandy, famously by Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 6, and also by many other units. But it was also used by various units in all the occupied countries along the German-fortified “Atlantic Wall.” The Normandy camouflage scheme is characterized by the use of red, green, and tan/brown/yellow paint. In some cases, the entire helmet would be oversprayed with the tan base color, and then areas would be further oversprayed with the red and green. Other helmet painters chose to simply spray areas with the various colors. These paints were, generally speaking, the same pigments supplied to units for the purposes of camouflaging vehicles. The paint was usually applied in unit work shops, using industrial type spray guns, rather than by the soldiers themselves. Every painter had his own style, and there were probably infinite variations in the way the helmets were camouflaged. Normandy camouflaged helmets were regarded by enemy GI soldiers as attractive souvenirs, and they remain very desirable collectibles today.

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