Original German WWII Army Heer M35 Double Decal Normandy Camouflage Overpaint Helmet with 1938 dated 57cm Liner – SE64 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 tan, brown, and green camouflage paint job, which is the very desirable “Normandy Pattern”! This was done over both decals, but both can still clearly be seen in outline, with the Heer Eagle design still mostly visible through the paint. 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 has definitely seen service since the repaint, and now has a fantastic service worn look, showing some original paint where it is worn, and also some of the shell itself, especially around the edges. This is a really nice example of a “Normandy Pattern” helmet with lots of patina!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 3987, and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, SE64. This indicates it was manufactured by Sächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G. of Lauter, Germany in size 64. 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 of the original liner split pins are present, however they have nickel alloy heads, which has caused most of the original paint as well as the camouflage paint to wear off. 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, but definitely shows that the helmet saw much service. It is stained around the rim areas, with some flaking of the leather over the rim. 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, as aluminum was scarce. The left exterior of the liner band is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that it is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date:

B. & C.
BERLIN
1938

This liner was made by Biedermann & Czarnikow, a German company who later moved operations to Łódź in occupied Poland to take advantage of the slave labor in the ghetto located there. NSDAP authorities renamed Łódź to Litzmannstadt in honor of the German General Karl Litzmann who had captured the city in the previous World War. This is exactly the right period and type of liner for this very early helmet.

The chin strap is missing except for a very small portion still attached to the left loop.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine M35 Double Decal “Normandy Camouflage” 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!

German WWII “Normandy” Camouflage:
Some of the most unique German helmets of WWII were worn during the Battle for Normandy. The terrain of thick green hedgerows, rolling green meadows, golden fields and orchards created diverse but deadly battlefields; one that necessitated good helmet camouflage for survival. To help their helmets blend into this environment, German soldiers at Normandy used a wide range of paint, wire, cloth covers and other devices to this end. These men were often hardened, experienced combat veteran with experience in campaigns in Poland, France, Africa and the USSR. They knew from experience what worked and what didn’t, and the helmet they wore during the Normandy campaign reflected that.

One effective, although more permanent method of concealing the helmet was the use of camouflage paint. It is up to some debate exactly when this method began among German soldiers but by the time of the Normandy campaign it was widespread. In mid 1943 the German high command ordered that a three color camouflaged scheme of tan, green and brown be used in the painting of vehicles and other equipment. These same paints were used to camouflage helmets as well. While the high command did order specific color codes be used for consistency, the hues of tan, green, and brown can vary on original examples significantly. The mix of these tan, green, and brown colors were used by German troops at Normandy with such frequency that today collectors call almost any German helmet with a mix of these three colors “Normandy Camo”.

It should be clear that while the use of these three colors for camouflaging helmets was common, there was never a directive from the German military high command to paint helmets in this manor. No officially sanctioned “Normandy camo” existed. The collector term, Normandy camo can still be justified to a large degree. Photos from the battle as well as surviving original example with Normandy providence would indicate this particular camo pattern was a favorite of Germans during the campaign. The mix of the three colors was certainly a good choice for Normandy as the countryside does exhibit those same colors. That being said with much of Western Europe’s terrain looking so similar this same pattern would see action in other battles as well.

The camouflage paints used at Normandy do not confine themselves to distinct hues of tan, brown and green. Some helmets were painted with two colors or just one and sometimes with non-standard military paints that were probably locally sourced. Further complicating the matter, captured British, Soviet, French and Italian paints were all used to camouflage helmets at Normandy. The hue of these colors often deviate from the standard German military colors. The German soldiers who camouflaged their helmets were well aware of their surroundings and certainly were aware of what colors and patterns would blend into the terrain they would soon be fighting in. It is logical they would have chosen colored paint based the local area which would account for the variation.

The German Stahlhelm Steel Helmet
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.