Luftwaffe Helmets

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INFO LINK : History of the Luftwaffe

Observations :

  • Factory paint color will differ between the helmet makers.
  • Patina will in some cases make the paint look green rather than blue/grey.
  • Exist as double decal (M35 , M17/18) , single decal (M35 , M40 , M42) and without decal (M40 Quist and M42).
  • The Snake leg and Straight leg decal are always found  on M35’s.
  • The so-called 2nd type adler is found on all models.
  • Decal application flaws are often spotted on Luftwaffe helmets.
  • Early M35 helmets often have unit stamps on the underside of the liner leather. Always look with caution !
  • Chinstraps can have an LBA stamp (Luftwaffe Bekleidungs Ampt).

Look in the Decals sub menu for details on Luftwaffe decals.

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Helmets with the 2 styles of Lufwaffe decals

SCROLL DOWN FOR EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT HELMETS

QUIST M35 , size 64 SNAKE LEG DECAL

  • Lotnumber 5174
  • 1936 dated liner band
  • 1937 dated dome stamp
  • Typical for early Luftwaffe helmets it has unit markings at the back of the leather.Be careful when hunting for such markings not to damage the leather.
  • Also typical are the application flaws of the bird decal.

EISENHUTTENWERKE M35 , size 66 STRAIGHT LEG DECAL

  • Lotnumber 3862
  • 1938 Dated liner band
  • Smeared dome stamp
  • Has a green sheen to the paint due to the patina
  • LBA marked chinstrap

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Soldier with straight leg eagle decal

QUIST (Q) size 64 – M35

  • 1940 production double decal – one of the last batch of DD helmets produced by Quist
  • 1940 dated steel liner band
  • 1940 dated Kaa rivets
  • 1939 dated Franze Brehme chinstrap with regimental markings

Emaillierwerke A.G. Fulda (EF) size 62 – M35

  • Lot number 937
  • 1939 Dated liner band
  • 1938 Dome stamp
  • Unit stamp under the leather : I. / Flak-Regiment 24 (gem. mot.)

SACHSISCHE EMAILLIER UND STANZWERKE M35 , size 64 2ND TYPE ADLER

  • Lot number 4283
  • 1939 Dated liner band
  • Faint dome stamp

Emaillierwerke A.G. Fulda (EF) size 62 – M35

  • Liner band date not known
  • Lot number 3802
  • Complete “reissue” overpaint which are less common amongst Luftwaffe helmets.
  • Nice addition is the tag which shows the helmet was requested to be exchanged by the soldier probably because of it having the wrong size.

Photos courtesy of Ron R

EISENHUTTENWERKE THALE M35 , size 62

  • 1941 dated liner band , aluminium reinforced with round cornered D rings.
  • Reissued Luftwaffe helmet , completely repainted and redecalled. The previous Luftwaffe decal wing shadow can be seen under the new eagle.
  • What is special about these reissues is that they all have a tricolor but later than 1940 components , there is no doubt these were intentionally made as double decals.
  • Carries the rarer Peiniger Luftwaffe decal

EISENHUTTENWERKE THALE M35 , size 64 

  • This is another reissued Luftwaffe helmet , it’s an ex Heer helmet ! It was redone in the same place as the helmet posted above.
  • The Heer decal shadow can be seen under the eagle
  • It also has the rarer Gustav Peiniger Luftwaffe decal

Photos courtesy of Ron R

SACHSISCHE EMAILLIER UND STANZWERKE M35 , size 64

  • 1937 dated liner and 1937 dated chinstrap
  • Lot nr unreadable
  • Reissued helmet which carries the Gustav Peiniger decal
  • Liner and shell have a unit stamp : I / Flak reg 29 , Batterie 5
  • The helmet belonged to Oberstleutnant Krichler (rank equivalent to Colonel)

Maker and size pending from the owner , rare green Luftwaffe decal

  • 1937 dated liner band
  • The helmet was re-issued / repainted and received a rare green LW decal which is believed to have been made to replace the white eagles which may have been too visible in the field.
  • On top of that it comes with the original net , a very rare combination

Photos courtesy of Langemarck

QUIST (Q) size 68 – M35 

  • 1939 Dated liner band
  • 1940 dated rivets
  • Lot number 21441
  • Was originally a double decal but was brought in line with 1940 specifications and got a rough overpaint and a single decal.

Emaillierwerke A.G. Fulda (EF) size 64 – M40

  • Lot number 1481
  • Has the typical EF eagle

Photos courtesy of Sysyphus

SACHSISCHE EMAILLIER UND STANZWERKE M40 , size 62

  • Lot number 9987
  • Liner band date unreadable.
  • Rough exterior paint , note the smooth painted rivet heads.

Emaillierwerke A.G. Fulda (EF) size 64 – M42

  • Lot number 123×1 (1 digit unreadable)
  • Typical very toned EF type adler
  • Liner band date 1942

EISENHUTTENWERKE M42 , size ?? 2ND TYPE ADLER

  • Lot number 1982
  • Liner band date not readable , leather is 1941 dated
  • Size stamp unreadable it is either a 66 or 68 sized helmet
  • Non oval dome stamp present

EISENHUTTENWERKE THALE M42 , size 64

  • ckl stamped (ET moved to the ckl code during 1943)
  • Lot number 2079
  • Liner band dated 1943

Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke (NS) size 64 – M42

  • Lot number 3272
  • Has the typical NS decal
  • Received some serious battle damage which the owner may not have survived