Original German WWII Extra Large Army Heer M35 Former Double Decal Helmet with 61cm Liner – ET68 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare giant-size 68cm 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 then saw long service, and now has a lovely period worn look that is impossible to duplicate.

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 exterior did receive a period field repaint to the later war Panzergrau (armored) gray color, which was left off the Eagle decal, but mostly covered the National colors. Only the exterior was repainted, so the interior is still the original apple green.

The repaint is well retained, though definitely worn, with areas that are chipped down to the original steel, while other parts show the original apple green paint. The left side of the helmet features a Heer eagle decal, which is retained about 75%, still bright and reflective, but with some scattered chipping. It has a fantastic golden color due to age. The right side of the helmet features a national colors decal, which is mostly covered by the repaint, but definitely still mostly intact under the paint. This is a really nice example of a service worn helmet with lots of patina!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped, 3480 and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, ET68 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerk AG, Thale Harz, Germany in size 68. Size 68 is a rare extra large size that can accommodate liners from 60cm to 61cm or US 7 1/2 to 7 5/8. Size 68 shells are the hardest to find and are therefore the most valuable to a collector.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, with exterior paint well retained on all, and they are still tight to the shell. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner with all NINE fingers still intact. This many fingers are only seen on large size 61cm liners such as this, and it still has the original top tie. The leather is still soft and supple, though there is wear around the rim, with the leather splitting and flaking a bit. The side of the galvanized steel liner band is marked 68 n.A. / 61, indicating that this is a size 61 liner for a size 68 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date, though it is quite faint:

SCHUBERTH-WERKE K.-G.
D. R. P.
1940
BRAUNSCHWEIG

With the very secure split pins and 1940 date, we are fairly certain that this is the original liner fitted to the helmet. There is unfortunately no chinstrap installed on the liner.

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.