Original German WWII Luftwaffe M35 Double Decal Helmet – marked Q66 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original example Model 1935 German WW2 “double decal” helmet with a Luftwaffe Eagle decal on the left side, and a “National Colors” decal on the right. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains about 60% of the original blue-gray Luftwaffe paint and is in good condition overall. The National Colors decal is retained at about 80%, with cracking from age and some wear. The Luftwaffe decal is probably around 50%, with some large missing parts and more cracking and age. All three liner retaining pins are intact, though they are a slightly different color, and may indicate a field replaced liner.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 3478 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, Q66 indicating that Quist in Esslingen, Germany manufactured it. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 3/8. Size 66 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

The helmet still has its correct good condition M31 liner with all of the 8 fingers intact. The liner also still has its original leather size adjustment string, though it is worn and stained, and the leather itself shows wear and is somewhat delicate. The liner band is galvanized steel, as seen in mid and late war helmets, so we definitely think it was arsenal or field replaced at some point. We can see the maker marking on the outside of the liner band, but we cannot read it. We believe the liner is a size 58cm. The chinstrap is present, though it is worn and looks to have been cut down slightly.

Overall a very nice totally correct 100% genuine double decal Luftwaffe helmet, 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.