Original German WWII M40 Luftwaffe Helmet with Touched Up Double Decals – Stamped SE62 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a Model 1940 M40 German WWII Lufwaffe Steel helmet. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains about 80% of the original Luftwaffe Blue-Gray paint, but it definitely shows wear, and looks to have been repainted at some point. This gives it a lovely worn look, with some cracking and flaking due to age.

The helmet has the correct “Double Decals” of the German National Tri-Color on the right and a Lufwaffe Eagle on the left, however these were definitely touched up / altered post war to improve their appearance. The National Colors decal looks like it was originally removed, as per March 1940 regulations, but then an attempt to restore it was made. The Luftwaffe decal definitely appears to be part original, but another decal was partly overlayed on top over the repainting to restore the lower portion with the Swas. Still, it is definitely an original WWII Luftwaffe helmet, regardless of what happened to it post war.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 1183 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, SE62 indicating that it was manufactured by Sächsische Emaillier und Stanzwerke A.G. of Lauter, Germany. Size 62 is a smaller size that can accommodate liners from 54cm to 55cm or US 6 3/4 to 6 7/8.

All three original liner retaining pins are intact and still retain most of the original paint, but also show wear and oxidation. The interior of the helmet still has an original M31 liner band, however the leather inner liner itself is a post war reproduction, made of thick leather, possibly rawhide. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 62 n.A / 54, indicating that this is a size 54 liner for a size 62 shell. We were not able to see the other side of the liner band to look for markings, as it is too tight in the shell. There is a chinstrap attached, but it to is definitely a post war reproduction.

Overall a nice condition genuine Battle Worn M40 Luftwaffe helmet, dressed up post war by a collector! 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.

The M1935 design was slightly modified in 1940 to simplify its construction, the manufacturing process now incorporating more automated stamping methods. The principal change was to stamp the ventilator hole mounts directly onto the shell, rather than utilizing separate fittings. In other respects, the M1940 helmet was identical to the M1935. The Germans still referred to the M1940 as the M1935, while the M1940 designation were given by collectors.