Original German WWII M40 Refurbished SS Normandy Chicken Wire Medic Sanität Helmet – Stamped Q66 Original Items

Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is a fine example of totally original Model M40 M-1940 German WW2 large size 66 helmet shell, refurbished by a master German camouflage restorer. The shell is faintly stamped Q66, indicating that F.W. Quist G.m.b.H. in the German city of Esslingen, Germany manufactured it. It is also stamped with lot number 208 under the rear skirt. 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 much harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

Notable History of the M40 SS Normandy Medic Sanität Helmet:-

– The battles in Normandy saw a number of SS units including the 1st LAH, 2nd Das Reich, and the 12th AH Jugen.

While Camo helmets worn by the SS come in a variety colors and schemes, most agree that the units in Normandy France used a paint scheme that was a blend of greens with some red brown compared to Russia where the greens were predominant.

This helmet represents those worn by the SS Sanität (Medical) units that served in France in the battles of 1944 and 1945. This example has had a heavy wire put around the shell, with chicken wire strung across the crown in a “half basket” style. This allowed additional items such as fabric and foliage to be attached, improving the camouflage profile. As with the originals, any decals present were painted over.

The chickenwire on this example exactly replicates the same European wire used during much of the war. The twist in the wire varies by country and by time. So many helmets out there use wire that is not correct for the period.

– German Veterans who had seen service in Russia were surprised in Normandy by the civility of the combat where in the east the red cross medic helmet was not respected, and even specifically targeted at times. When they were moved to Normandy, they quickly repainted the “red cross” insignia, in this case OVER the chicken wire.

What does refurbished mean? While the shell is 100% genuine WWII manufacture, we have tasked, perhaps the very best German Helmet restorer in the USA, to customize this helmet. Every detail is hand done, with the finest materials including a hand painted shell, with a hand hand aged high quality reproduction liner. Please know that the paint, liner and chinstrap, while they look totally original are all new and the helmet has been refurbished to look as if it was picked up off the battlefield by a USGI and brought home as a war trophy.

This helmet is one-of-a-kind there will never be one exactly like it, making it a true collectors piece that will do nothing but appreciate in value in the coming years. This is a rare opportunity to own a genuine WWII German Helmet for a fraction of the cost of one with original camouflage paint.