Luftwaffe Helmets

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.

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

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

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

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

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.