Original German WWII 1939 Dated Luftwaffe M35 Double Decal Helmet with 60cm Liner & Chinstrap in Named USGI Bring Back Box – NS68 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. Here we have a fantastic offering! This is a great 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. 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!

Even better, this helmet was sent back home during or after the war, and we still have the original crate, which is labeled with both the sender and recipients address! The sender address is labeled as follows:

From:
Pfc. Louie Gibbs, 35994133
HQ. Det. 504 MP Bn. APO 403
c/o PM. New York, NY.

The recipient address is:

To:
Miss Gloria Backus
212 1/2 South 4th Str.
Richmond, INDIANA

The box has the correct New York Post Office customs label, and is really in great shape. It looks to be a box for some type of provisions or other light weight items, as the corners are not finger jointed and the walls are relatively thin. It measures 12 1/2″ wide x 10 3/4″ deep x 8 1/4″ high.

From what we can find online, Gibbs would marry Gloria Backus, and had several children. He passed away in 1995 and had been a Police Chief, and his wife passed in 2015. We were not able to find much information about his service unfortunately.

NARA records indicate that LOUIS E GIBBS was born 1926 in Indiana, and the records indicate that he enlisted at Ft. Knox, Kentucky on January 4th, 1946, after WWII was over. However his source of personnel is listed as “Enlisted Man, Philippine Scout or recall to AD of an enlisted man who had been transferred to the ERC”, so it is possible that he re-enlisted. Definitely some fantastic research potential!

This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains about 75% of the original correct smooth blue-gray Luftwaffe fliegerblau (flyer’s blue) used on early helmets, which would later become textured, and is in good condition overall. There are some scuffs and scrapes consistent with service wear, as well as a good amount of wear through on the crown of the helmet. There is however no major damage, and all of this is consistent with service. The National Colors decal is retained at about 80%, with some wear including chips and scrapes. The Luftwaffe decal is retained at about 85%, with similar wear and flaking, but no major damage. The enamel layer on top has yellowed giving them a fantastic color.

The interior of the helmet still has the original “Dome Stamp” inspection mark, which is almost completely legible, reading:

Abgenommen
II
1939
Beschaffungsamt
für Heer und Marine

This translates basically to “Accepted, 1939, Procurement Office for Army and Navy.” Dome stamps are seldom still visible on the inside of helmets, and ones this clear are exceedingly rare!

All three liner split pins are still intact, and retain almost all of their original paint. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all of the NINE fingers present and supple, which are only seen on these larger 60 and 61 size liners. The original top tie is unfortunately missing. The leather shows light staining from age and use, but considering the age of the liner, it is in very good condition. 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 68 n. A. / 60, indicating that it is a size 55 liner for a size 62 shell. There is also a 60 stamped onto the leather itself. The right side has the full maker information clearly stamped:

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 1939, which fits right into the immediate pre-war period. The attached chinstrap has the correct aluminum buckle and studs for the period, and is in very good condition, still fully intact, and just a bit stiff due to age.

Overall a fantastic USGI Bring Back totally correct 100% genuine double decal Luftwaffe helmet, with some fantastic research potential! We do not get helmets like these very often at all, and this is almost sure to appreciate in value over the years, especially with the original Bring Back Box! Ready to research and 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.