My Collection Gallery
Wehrmacht/Heer helmets
M18 Double decal Heer helmet; size 64 shell with 1931 dated liner and pre-1935 style carbine hook chinstrap
One of the earliest examples of third Reich helmets, this M18 was brush painted in M35 style smooth texture paint and the decals applied over. The size was ink-stamped into the dome. The liner is a 1931 dated first-run Shuberthwerk with embossed size/date on the leather. The below photo shows the early carbine hook chinstrap in detail.
M35 Double decal Heer helmet; 'ET' manufactured shell with 1939 dated liner, chinstrap and dome stamp.
The above M35 helmet was purchased in Hamburg, Germany in 1978. After British troops took Hamburg in April, 1945 several dead German soldiers were lying in the street in front of the photo shop of Mr. Rolf Menke. After two days a truck arrived and the bodies were lifted into the back. One of the soldiers' helmets fell off and clattered onto the pavement. 10 year-old Jurgen Menke ran out into the street and picked up this helmet. He retained it until 1978 when he ended up selling it for the price of $45.00.
M35 Double decal Heer helmet; 'Q' manufactured shell with 1937 dated liner, chinstrap and dome-stamp.
M35 Double decal Heer helmet; 'SE' manufactured shell with 1937 dated liner.
M35 Double decal Heer helmet; 'NS' manufactured shell with 1939 dated liner, and dome stamp. The dome stamp clearly reads "Abgenommen IV 1939, Beschaftungsampt fur Heer und Marine"
M35 Double decal Heer helmet; 'EF' manufactured shell with 1939 dated liner, and 1939 dated chinstrap
M35 Double decal Heer helmet; Q manufactured shell with 1937 dated liner band, 1937 dated chinstrap and 1937 dated dome-stamp
The above M35 helmet was re-issued sometime before 1940 as it has been over-painted by brush in early green paint and both decals have been applied over this brushed on paint.
M35 single decal Heer helmet; 'NS' manufactured shell with a 1939 liner band date
This helmet straddles the fence between M35 and M40 specs. It is finished in early smooth texture grey/green paint but the national colors shield was never applied. The dome stamp is the un-dated type used after early 1940
M35, re-issued single decal Heer helmet; EF64 shell with a 1938 dated liner band
This helmet has had the entire exterior surface as well as the interior skirt covered by a layer of brush applied paint. The decal was painted around.
M35, re-issued no decal Heer helmet; Q64 shell with a 1939 liner band date
This helmet was originally a double decal Heer but the exterior was over-painted and both decals were covered. As seen in the photos, the interior was also over-painted up to the liner band but the inside dome remains the early "apple green" smooth texture finish.
M35, re-issued no decal Heer helmet; ET66 shell with a 1938 liner band date, 1938 domestamp and 1938 chinstrap
This M35 helmet has been over-painted in a light olive color. The decals have been covered and the inside of the helmet has been painted up to the liner band.
M35 single decal Heer helmet; NS64 shell with a 1940 liner band date
This is an M35 helmet shell that was one of the first to be finished according to 1940 specs with a steel band liner and wartime texture paint. The words "Afrika korps" are penned into the liner. Possibly by a US soldier who may have captured this in Africa
M40 single decal Heer helmet; ET62 shell with a 1940 liner band date and 1940 dated chinstrap
M40 single decal Heer helmet; NS64 shell with 1940 dated liner band.
I bought this helmet in 1985 from the veteran's son. The chinstrap is an early carbine hook model normally found on helmets 1936 or earlier.
M40 single decal Heer helmet; NS64 shell with 1940 dated liner band and 1940 dated chinstrap
M40 re-issued single decal Heer helmet; ET66 shell with 1940 dated liner band.
Originally issued as a single decal army helmet, the helmet exterior was later covered by field applied textured paint as per 1943 specifications.
M42 single decal Heer helmet; ET64 shell with 1940 dated liner band, RB numbered chinstrap and un-dated dome-stamp
The dome stamp inside this helmet is typical of the wartime un-dated type. It clearly reads "Abgennomen Wehrmacht Beschaffungsampt bekleidungs und ausrustung" (Accepted: Wehrmacht procurement office: clothing and equipment)
M42 single decal Heer helmet; ET64 shell with 1943 dated liner band and pigskin liner.
I bought this helmet in April 1986 from a veteran of a WW2 Anti-aircraft unit.
M42 single decal Heer helmet; Ckl 66 shell, 1943 dated liner band, 1942 dated chinstrap
M42 single decal Heer helmet; Ckl 64 shell, 1943 dated liner band, 1942 dated chinstrap
M42 Heer helmet; ET66 shell with a 1940 dated liner band
This is a fairly early production M42 single decal army helmet. The decal was later covered by field applied textured paint as per 1943 specifications.
M42 Heer helmet; Ckl66 shell with a 1944 dated liner band. Chinstrap is unmarked.
One of the last helmets produced by the Third Reich, The shell of this M42 helmet displays crude stamping. The Acceptance stamp inside the dome is the latest version.
M16 transition Heer helmet; Si66 shell with a 1941 dated liner band. Chinstrap is unmarked.
M18 "Cut-out" transition Heer helmet; ET64 shell with a 1943 dated liner band. Chinstrap is dated 1943.
M1940 Tropical pith helmet helmet
Unknown maker. This helmet has a tan colored pugaree around the green colored body
M1940 Tropical pith helmet helmet
A nice example of a Clemens Wagner style with it's distinctive shape. The Clemens Wagner firm was mostly employed in making visor hats for the army and SS
M1940 Tropical pith helmet helmet
With this helmet, the liner system is mounted to the body by cloth covered cork discs indicating it to be made by a French manufacturer.
M1940 Tropical pith helmet helmet
Known as the "second pattern", these felt covered pith helmets are known to have been made in conjunction with the earlier canvas covered cork bodied models.