Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice all original example of a German Model 35 Steel helmet, as issued to the Wehrmacht Heer (army). It looks to have seen long service, and was repainted at least once. It was originally painted early/pre war Apfel-grün (apple green), and then was repainted a darker Panzergrau (Armor gray). It then saw further service, and the outer coat of paint has worn away in areas, especially on the top of the helmet. This gives it a fantastic worn look that is impossible to duplicate!

The left side of the helmet features a worn Heer eagle decal, which is retained about 60%. It has a lot of overall wear, with areas of the eagle completely flaked away. This is a very nice example of the M35 helmet, with a great service worn look!

The lightly textured paint on the interior unfortunately makes it impossible to see the original maker mark and heat lot number. However we measured around the outside, and it is definitely a size 62 shell, with the correct installed rivets of an M35. Size 62 is a nice smaller size that can accommodate liners from 54cm to 55cm or US 6 3/4 to 6 5/8.

All three original liner retaining pins are intact with the original paint and repaint partly retained. The interior of the helmet still has an original M31 leather liner with all eight fingers still present, showing overall wear from service. The leather is still supple, however there is some tearing around the edge. The top tie is unfortunately missing. The outer side of the galvanized steel liner band over the left ear is marked 62 n.A / 55, indicating that this is a size 55 liner for a size 62 shell. There is even an ink stamped 55 in a circle on one of the fingers. It is also maker marked and dated faintly on the other side (partly covered by oxidation and an old paper label):

We have seen this identical R.B. Number (National Business Number) on other liner bands, though we unfortunately have not been able to identify it. We assume that this liner is a replacement fitted when the helmet was repainted during the war. There is also another number stamped on the underside of the liner itself, probably the leather producer.

The chin strap looks to be original to the helmet, with all aluminum hardware. It is in good condition, though the leather is somewhat stiff.

Overall a very nice M35 Single Decal Heer Army helmet, with loads of history! M35 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.