Original German WWII Luftwaffe M35 Droop Tail Double Decal Steel Helmet with 1938 dated Liner – ET64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an incredible all original example of a Model 1935 German early WWII “double decal” helmet, complete with original liner and chinstrap! It has an early “Droop-Tail” Luftwaffe Eagle decal on the left side, and a “National Colors” decal on the right. The use of the second decal was discontinued in 1940, and in 1943 it was ordered that helmets with the national colors have them removed, so finding a helmet with both still intact is a real treat!

Both decals are still retained at over 90%, and both have a lovely aged yellow look from the lacquer coating used on German decals. The paint is the correct smooth blue-gray Luftwaffe fliegerblau used on early helmets, which would later become textured, and is well retained. Just a great example of an early WWII period helmet!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 4083, and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, ET64 indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhuttenwerk AG of Thale, located in the Harz district in Saxony, Germany. Size 64 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.

All three of the original liner split pins are present, though much of the original paint has worn off. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all eight of its fingers intact and an intact top strap. The leather is still supple, but does show moderate wear, with some small splits on the edge. It is overall a dark brown color, showing that it was used and exposed to sweat and oils. The early war issue aluminum liner band is marked on the left outer side with 64 n.A. / 56, indicating that the liner is a size 56, intended for a 64 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

D. R. P.
SCHUBERTH-WERKE
K.-G.
BRAUNSCHWEIG
1938

The band is the correct reinforced pattern, with an extra layer of aluminum around the sides to support the chin strap. Soon after this, manufacturers moved to the galvanized steel band. Attached to the liner is a totally correct chin strap with all aluminum hardware. It looks to have markings on the end of the long portion, however we cannot read them. The leather is somewhat dry, and it is stretched over the brim at present. There is a taped section in the front, which we assume is a repair from long ago.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine double decal Luftwaffe helmet with great decals and fully intact rigging! We do not get helmets like these very often at all. Ready to display!

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.