Original German WWII Army Heer M35 Former Double Decal Helmet with 57cm Liner & Chinstrap – Size 64 Shell Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare all original example of a German WWII Model 1935 “Double Decal” helmet, as issued to the Heer (Army). As an early war helmet, it was originally painted with early Apfelgrün (apple green) paint, which is the early war color with more green in the mix. It also was equipped with “double decals”, with a Heer Eagle on the left side and a National Colors 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. This helmet did not have the decal removed at that time, however the liner was removed, and she shell was arsenal refinished with a later war Panzergrau (armored gray) textured paint job. This was left off of the Eagle decal, but the national colors decal was completely covered up. The entire interior was also repainted.

The repaint is well retained, showing only light wear, with a few chips down to the steel base layer, which are mainly from the original paint job having had some oxidation under it. The right side decal also had some of the paint removed, most likely post war, to verify the type of decal that it is, however this also caused some of the decal to flake off. This is a really nice example of a service worn helmet with lots of patina!

Due to the textured paint job, we are unfortunately not able to read any of the original shell stampings. We measured around the exterior, and came up with 65cm, indicating that it is a size 64cm shell. 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.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, with exterior paint retained very well on all. The helmet still has its correct excellent condition M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present and supple, showing only light wear. It definitely looks to have been a later war replacement, and it is missing the top tie string, showing just a bit of staining around the edge. The left exterior of the galvanized steel liner band is marked 64 n. A. / 57, indicating that it is a size 56 liner for a size 64 shell. It is also stamped 57 on the leather itself near the rear. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date, though it was stamped faintly and can be hard to read:

SCHUBERTH-WERKE K.-G.
D. R. P.
1943
BRAUNSCHWEIG

The chinstrap is present and intact, with no major damage or tears, though it does show staining from age and use. There are no maker markings that we can see, and it has the correct steel hardware for a later issue chin st rap.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine M35 Former Double Decal Heer Army helmet, with no signs of being messed with! 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.