Original German WWII M42 Single Decal Luftwaffe Helmet – NS64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a really nice example of a German Luftwaffe single decal M42. This example comes with the original chin strap and helmet liner band. There is no leather liner, only the galvanized steel outer band, which is dated 1943. The chinstrap is in somewhat delicate condition, but still soft and in one piece, with the stamp even still visible. All we could make out from the chinstrap stamp is the year, 1940. The dome stamp is also still present on the inside of the helmet, but unfortunately appears to have been double stamped and cannot be read.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is lot number stamped D280 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size NS64, indicating that it was manufactured by Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, of Schwerte, 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.

The best feature of this helmet has to be the Luftwaffe decal on the left side. The helmet was repainted post war, there’s no denying that and there is still evidence of the paint. The helmet had the green repaint removed at some point, uncovering the beautiful original helmet shell color and decal. There is still some of the green paint visible around the decal, but it could be easily removed if you wished to do so.

Overall a nice condition M42 Single Decal Luftwaffe helmet! 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.