Original German WWII Army Heer M35 Single Decal KIA Shot Through Steel Helmet with Torn Liner & Chinstrap – SE66 Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a genuine USGI bring back Trophy of War, picked up off the battlefield some time after the fighting was done. The unique aspect of this particular “Shot Through” helmet is what looks to be a .30 caliber bullet entrance hole in the top front of the helmet, with the steel bent inwards and the paint removed. There is a matching exit hole on the rear left of the helmet, with the steel bent outwards. Looking through the holes, anyone wearing the helmet at the time would have been severely wounded, if not killed. Additionally, there are dents on either side of the rear skirt, which make it look like the helmet was run over at some point, which is why it is somewhat “squished”. Definitely some fascinating history to this helmet!

Otherwise, this is also an all original example of a German WWII M35 helmet, as issued to the Heer (Army), though it has a darker more “blue green” color to the paint than we are used to seeing. It looks to have been repainted during the war with this textured color, and a new Heer eagle decal applied. This is retained well, though it is discolored overall, with some flaking that exposes the underlying silver layer.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is batch number stamped 2991, and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, SE66. This indicates it was manufactured by Sächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G. of Lauter, Germany in size 66. This is a nice large size that can accommodate size 58cm and 59cm liners, or 7 1/4 – 7 3/8 US. Shells of this large size are harder to find, and more valuable to a collector.

All three of the original liner split pins are present, with the original paint retained to a varying degree. They look to have nickel alloy heads, which has caused most of the original paint to wear off on some. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, but it is stained and torn, with many of the fingers torn away. It is definitely in what we would consider “relic” 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, as aluminum was scarce. The left exterior of the liner band is marked 66 n.A / 58, 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 original chinstrap is still present, with the correct aluminum buckle and hardware, though it definitely is degraded and missing part of the longer portion.

Overall a very nice 100% genuine M35 KIA Shot Through Heer Army Single Decal helmet! M35 helmets of this quality are always the hardest to find on the market. 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.

More than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed.