Introduction

With this page I just want to make collectors aware of the many paint variations that exist and get some examples on one page to make it easier to review the differences.

Paint colors vary between the 5 different helmet factories and even over different time periods.

People often think each branch had its own paint color but only Luftwaffe helmets have a different color , we collectors call it Luftwaffe blue. Heer , SS , Kriegsmarine and Polizei helmets all have the same color of paint starting with smooth green on their M35’s to textured feldgrau on M40’s to M42’s.

Smooth paint as found on factory M35 helmets (and SE M40 Polizei helmets)

! Patina can make the colors look darker. !

Some makers like ET only used apple green , some makers only used apple green early on and switched to pea green.

Apple green

Pea green

Smooth painted M40 Polizei

With Luftwaffe helmets the color differences are more nuanced and so we just call it Luftwaffe blue.

 

 

Textured paints as found on M40’s and M42’s

Colors range from green/gray to gray. On the inside a helmet always received smooth paint. (exceptions exist)

Below the more common flat texture examples.

Luftwaffe helmets have more nuances when comparing them maker by maker going from a light blue/gray to a dark gray/blue.

EF M42