Original German WWII Luftwaffe M35 Double Decal Helmet with 57cm Liner & Chinstrap – marked EF64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great service used all original example Model 1935 German WWII “double decal” helmet, with a Luftwaffe Eagle decal on the left side, and a “National Colors” decal on the right side. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains over 90% of the original lightly textured Fliegerblau (Flyer Blue) paint and is in very good condition overall. The National Colors decal is retained at about 75%, with with wear through and scratching as shown. The Luftwaffe decal is probably around 75% as well, with the lacquer top coat chipped off in some areas. All three liner retaining pins are intact, with most of their original paint.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 20212, and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, EF 64 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda Germany in size 64. This is a nice medium size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/8. Size 64 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

The helmet still has its correct very good condition M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present and supple. The liner also still has its original size adjustment string, and overall there is only light wear do the liner, as with the rest of the helmet. The liner band is aluminum, with square aluminum chin strap loops attached to reinforced sides. This is the last pattern before the move to galvanized steel bands. The left exterior of the liner band is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that it is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. It is also maker marked and dated on the other side:

Metall-Lederverarbeitung W.Z.
1939
Bln.- Ch’burg 5

This indicates production by the metal and leather working company Werner Zahn, based in Berlin – Charlottenburg, in the year 1938, which fits right into the early war period.

The chin strap is present, though it is worn and in delicate condition, The longer section is partly torn where it attaches to the liner, and the original buckle is partly broken away. It does have the correct aluminum securing studs and buckle, so it is most likely original to the helmet.

Overall a very nice totally correct 100% genuine double decal Luftwaffe helmet, with a great service worn look! M40 helmets of this quality are always the hard to find on the market. This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time.

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, (National Defence Force, Circa 1919-1933), era and on into the early years of the Third Reich until the development of the smaller, lighter M35 style helmet in June 1935.

The Luftwaffe pattern national eagle was originally introduced for wear by Fliegerschaft, (Pilot Base), personnel of the DLV, Deutscher Luftsportsverband, (German Air Sports Association), the clandestine, civilian, forerunner of the Luftwaffe on August 18TH 1934, and adopted for wear by the Luftwaffe on March 1ST 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. Regulations of June 12TH 1940 discontinued the use of the national tri-color decal and further regulations of August 28TH 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.