Original German WWII Army Heer M35 Double Decal Textured Overpaint Helmet with 1937 dated 57cm liner & Chinstrap – Size 64 Shell Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a fantastic all original example of a German WWII M35 helmet, issued to the Heer (Army), which shows a fantastic look and patina. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet definitely shows signs of long service, As an early war helmet, it was originally painted with a very nice early Apfelgrün (apple green) paint, which is the early war color with more green in the mix. It also was affixed with very desirable “Double Decals” of a Silver Heer Eagle on the left side, and a “National Colors” decal on the right.

However, during its service life, the helmet was overpainted with a later war textured Feldgrau (Field Gray) color finish, which mostly covered the National colors, while the Eagle was protected from this. The use of the second decal had been discontinued in 1940, and in 1943 it was ordered that helmets with the national colors have them removed. As this example had the second decal overpainted and not removed, it was most likely repainted in the early 1940s.

It then saw much further service, which has worn away the textured overpaint in many areas, showing the original apple green paint underneath. There are also some areas where the paint is worn through to the steel. The Heer Eagle decal is probably still 70% visible, as the top and left edges were overpainted. The silver has faded to a nice “champagne” color, and still is bright and reflective, with some scratching overall. This is a really  nice example of a service worn helmet with lots of patina!

When the helmet was overpainted, the textured paint was applied to the underside as well, in the standard “field repaint” style, which did not involve removing the liner. The original paint is still visible inside the dome. Unfortunately due to this, the stampings on the underside of the shell are completely covered up, except for just a bit on the rear skirt. We did measure it, and the shell measures about 65cm on the outside, so it is a 64cm shell. Size 64 is a nice smaller 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, with the paint retained to a varying degree. They look to have brass heads (tested with a magnet), which is why one looks to be “brown” – it is oxidized brass. We see no evidence that they have ever been removed form the helmet. 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, and shows only moderate wear, with no real degradation. The early war issue aluminum liner band is marked on the left outer side with 64 n.A. / 57, indicating that the liner is a size 57, 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
1937

The band is the earliest pattern without reinforcements around the chin strap bails to support the chin strap. This liner is now somewhat deformed, as the chinstrap has pulled inward on the liner, bending the liner band as well as the band for the leather. This illustrates quite well why later liner bands had reinforced sides, and eventually were replaced with galvanized steel versions.

The original chinstrap is still intact and in very good condition, especially considering the age. There is no tearing or major deterioration, and it has the correct aluminum buckle and studs. You can see aluminum has rubbed off onto the chin strap where it is secured, so this chinstrap is definitely original and has bene on the helmet for some time. It even has a faded maker mark on the long end!

Overall a very nice 100% genuine M35 Double Decal Textured Overpaint Heer Army helmet! The period service wear on this gives it an absolutely unique look! 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.

In 1934 tests began on an improved Stahlhelm, whose design was a development of World War I models. The Eisenhüttenwerke company of Thale carried out prototype design and testing, with Dr. Friedrich Schwerd once again taking a hand.

The new helmet was pressed from sheets of molybdenum steel in several stages. The size of the flared visor and skirt was reduced, and the large projecting lugs for the obsolete armor shield were eliminated. The ventilator holes were retained, but were set in smaller hollow rivets mounted to the helmet’s shell. The edges of the shell were rolled over, creating a smooth edge along the helmet. Finally, a completely new leather suspension, or liner, was incorporated that greatly improved the helmet’s safety, adjustability, and comfort for each wearer. These improvements made the new M1935 helmet lighter, more compact, and more comfortable to wear than the previous designs.

The Army’s Supreme Command officially accepted the new helmet on June 25, 1935 and it was intended to replace all other helmets in service.

The M1935 design was slightly modified in 1940 to simplify its construction, the manufacturing process now incorporating more automated stamping methods. The principal change was to stamp the ventilator hole mounts directly onto the shell, rather than utilizing separate fittings. In other respects, the M1940 helmet was identical to the M1935. The Germans still referred to the M1940 as the M1935, while the M1940 designation were given by collectors.

The last wartime upgrade to the standard helmet took place on 6 July 1942 at the request of the Army High Command. The rolled edge found on M1935 and M1940 helmets was discontinued as a measure of economy. On 1 August 1942 the first M1942 helmets were placed into production, and this was the model produced until late in the war, when most factories were captured or stood idle due to material shortages.