Original German WWII M42 Single Decal Luftwaffe Helmet Shell with Size 59cm Liner Band – ET66 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original example Model 1942 German WWII helmet shell with a single Luftwaffe Eagle decal and size 59cm liner band. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains about 85% of the original lightly textured Luftwaffe Blue-Gray paint, and shows wear and spots of oxidation where the paint has flaked away. This was definitely a helmet that saw light use during the war, with a lovely patina of age. The decal is retained at around the same amount, with some areas chipped away, and overall age degradation. If you were looking for a nice lightly service worn helmet for your collection, this is it!

The reverse, interior, neck guard apron is serial number stamped 1545 and the interior, left side, apron has the stamped manufacturer’s code and size, ET66 indicating that it was manufactured by Eisenhuttenwerk AG of Thale, located in the Harz district in Saxony, Germany. Size 66 is a nice larger size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 59cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 5/8. Size 66 shells are harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

All three liner retaining pins are intact, with most of the original paint intact. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 liner band. There is no leather present, this is just the liner band and no chin strap. The mid war issue galvanized steel liner band is marked on the left outer side with 66 nA / 59, indicating that the liner band is a size 59, intended for a 66 shell. The right side displays the full manufacture information, as well as a date but is difficult to read.

Overall a nice condition genuine Service Worn M42 Single Decal Luftwaffe helmet! This is an item that will only continue to appreciate in value over time. Ready to be fitted with an original liner and displayed!

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.