Original German WWII Extra Large Luftwaffe M35 Double Decal Helmet with 60cm Liner & Dome Stamp – marked SE68 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. 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 side. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains much of the original Fliegerblau (Flyer Blue) paint and is in very good condition overall. It does have oxidation on the exterior in some large patches, so the paint is only about 50% complete now. This gives it a great service worn look that is impossible to duplicate.

The National Colors decal is retained at about 90%, with some some wear and staining. The Luftwaffe decal is even better, retained almost 100%, with some staining from oxidation. Really some great decals here! 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 treasure!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 4459, and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, SE68. This indicates it was manufactured by Sächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G. of Lauter, 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. There is also still an oval Dome Stamp on the top of the interior, however it is faded, so we can’t make out the date clearly, though it looks to be a “1938” or “1939”.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, with most of their original paint still present. The helmet still has its correct very good condition M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present and supple. The liner also still has its original size adjustment string, and overall the leather shows moderate wear, and a lovely aged color. 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 58 liner for a size 66 shell. There is also a 60 in a circle ink stamped onto the leather of the liner. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

Metallwarenfabrik
1939
F.W.M.

This indicates 1939 production by F.W. Müller Jr. in Berlin, which fits right into the period. The original chinstrap is unfortunately missing.

Overall a very nice totally early war double decal Luftwaffe helmet with a great decals and a service worn look, ready to display! We do not get helmets like these very often at all. Ready to 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.