Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original example of a Named German Model 40 Steel helmet, as issued to the Wehrmacht Heer (army). It shows service wear in the form of light oxidation and paint chipping, so it most likely saw service for a long period in a damp environment. This stamped sheet steel construction helmet retains 75% of its original lightly textured "panzergrau" paint. The rear skirt of the helmet has the name Lengenfeldt in white paint, the last name of the soldier it was issued to.
The left side of the helmet features a very nice Heer eagle decal, which is retained about 80%. Due to age and the oxidation of the helmet, it looks somewhat gold in color, but close examination of the checked surface shows that it is silver under the lacquer, correct for the Army. This is a very nice name example of the M40 helmet, with a great service worn look!
Above the left ear interior of the apron has a stamped manufacturer's code and size ET64 indicating it was manufactured by Eisenhuttenwerk AG, in Thale, Harz. Size 64 is a medium size shell, which can accommodate size 56-67 liners. The larger size makes these harder to find and more desirable to a collector. It is also marked with lot number 400 on the underside of the rear skirt. The markings are a bit unclear due to the oxidation.
All three liner retaining pins are intact, with worn paint. The interior of the helmet still has the original M31 leather liner, however it is degraded due to wear and age. Several of the "fingers" have the tips torn off, and there are some tears and missing leather near the rear. The leather is very dark brown overall, showing much use and wear. The mid war issue galvanized steel liner band is marked on the left outer side with 64 nA / 57, indicating that the liner is a size 57, intended for a 64 shell. The right side has suffered oxidation, so only "D.R.P", can be seen, probably indicating manufacture by Schuberth Werke.
The chin strap is unfortunately completely missing, but could easily be dressed up with a postwar replacement if desired.
Overall a very nice Named M40 Single Decal Heer Army helmet, with loads of patina! M40 helmets of this quality are always the hardest to find on the market. 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.
The last wartime upgrade to the standard helmet took place on 6 July 1942 at the request of the Army High Command. The rolled edge found on M1935 and M1940 helmets was discontinued as a measure of economy. On 1 August 1942 the first M1942 helmets were placed into production, and this was the model produced until late in the war, when most factories were captured or stood idle due to material shortages.
