Original German WWII Luftwaffe M35 Double Decal Helmet with Size 60 Liner – marked Q68 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition 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 90% of the original blue-gray Luftwaffe paint and is in excellent condition overall. The National Colors decal is retained at about 95%, with just a few small scratches. The Luftwaffe decal is probably around 95% as well, though it has age toning and some crazing and checking. 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 4803 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, Q68 indicating that Quist in Esslingen, Germany manufactured it. Size 68 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 60cm to 61cm or US 7 1/2 to 7 5/8. Size 68 shells are much 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 fingers intact, and is stamped size 60 on one of the fingers. It is somewhat intresting, as the liner actually has 9 fingers, with an “extra” grafted in, possibly a rare field adaptation of a smaller replacement liner leather. The galvanized steel band is marked 68 n.A / 60, so it definitely is a size 60 band. The leather is in very good shape, though the top tie string is unfortunately missing. 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.  Unfortunately the chin strap is completely missing.

Overall a very nice totally correct 100% genuine double decal large size 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.