Original German WWII 1939 dated Luftwaffe M35 Double Decal Steel Helmet with 56cm Liner – marked EF64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice 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!

This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains 90+% 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, and no major damage. The National Colors decal is retained at about 80%, with checking from age and some wear, as well as some chips and scrapes. The Luftwaffe decal is retained at about 75%, with wear and flaking, and some scrapes, which have removed most of the bottom of the eagle. They have a lovely service worn look.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 20225, and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, E.F. 64 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda Germany in size 64. Size 64 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 split pins are still intact, however they are nickel silver finished, so most of the original paint has worn away. The helmet still has its correct M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers present and supple. There is staining and wear from 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 64 n. A. / 56, indicating that it is a size 56 liner for a size 64 shell. There is also a size 56 stamp on 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 early war period. The chin strap is unfortunately completely missing, not surprising considering the condition of the liner.

Overall a very nice totally correct 100% genuine double decal Luftwaffe helmet, ready to display! We do not get helmets like these very often at all.

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.