Original German WWII M40 Winter Field Camouflage Steel Helmet – Marked NS66 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an incredible all original example Model 1940 German WWII helmet, which was originally Field Gray (FeldGrau) but was over painted with a nice winter camouflage over a white base, for use during the winter months in snow covered theaters of operation either on the Western or Eastern front. The effect approximates the look of the usual “dirty snow” that would be seen on the battlefield.

As with field repainted helmets, only the outside has had the white applied, most likely with a brush, often with sand or dirt to add texture. It has wear and fading, but the over paint is still over 75% complete, and the original Feldgrau paint can be seen where the white paint is worn. All three liner retaining pins are original to the helmet and intact, showing the original paint under the white. The interior of the helmet shows the original Feldgrau as well, with some rusting and other wear.

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped, D162 and the interior, left side, apron has a stamped manufacturer’s code and size, NS66 indicating that Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke, of Schwerte, Germany manufactured it in size 66. 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. Original chinstrap is unfortunately missing.

The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, which is in delicate condition, with a lot of age and wear related deterioration. Years of storage caused the leather to become brittle and shrink considerably, so most of the fingers have pulled away, with pieces still attached to the original top tie string. The mid war issue galvanized steel liner band is marked on the left outer side with 66 nA / 58, indicating that the liner is a size 58, intended for a 66 shell. There appears to be manufacturer mark on the other side over the right ear, however the oxidation on the liner band makes it illegible.

Overall an incredibly rare 100% genuine German M40 Winter Camouflage helmet, in a nice large size 66. 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.

More than 1 million M1935 helmets were manufactured in the first two years after its introduction, and millions more were produced until 1940 when the basic design and production methods were changed, replacing the multi-piece riveted vent with one stamped directly into the steel. Later, in 1942 the rolled steel rim was removed from the pattern to further expedite production.