Original German WWII M40 Single Decal Luftwaffe Steel Helmet – EF64 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition all original example Model 1940 German WWII helmet with a single Luftwaffe Eagle decal. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains about 70% of the original blue/grey lightly textured Luftwaffe paint on the exterior and is in very good condition overall. Most of the paint wear is on the crown of the helmet, where one would expect it. The paint on the interior has fared a bit better, retained at about 80%. The decal is retained at 80%+, with two small scratches, and just a bit of age deterioration. Definitely a good example of this type of helmet.

All three original liner retaining pins are intact, though they are missing most of their paint. The interior of the helmet still has an original M31 leather liner with all eight fingers present, however the leather has deteriorated significantly. The top tie strap is missing, and there is definitely age and use deterioration. This was not a helmet that stayed back home. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 64 n.A / 57, indicating that this is a size 57 liner for a size 64 shell. The chin strap is unfortunately completely missing, but could be easily replaced with a reproduction or period replacement.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 1339 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, EF64 indicating that indicating it was manufactured by Emaillierwerke AG, of Fulda Germany in size 64. Size 66 is a nice medium size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 57cm or US 7 to 7 1/8.

Overall an very good condition genuine M40 Single Decal Luftwaffe helmet! 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.