Luftwaffe Paratrooper Helmet
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 22.GOR.01.02.01.007.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
M38 Single Decal Fallschirmjäger Helmet - Stamped sheet steel construction, magnetic, original bluish-gray exterior, the left side exhibiting the Luftwaffe eagle, the insignia having experienced overall scuffing. Three of the four liner retention bolts are intact, the fourth one at the right front having been lost to time. The inside comes complete with its original two-piece tan leather liner, each of the two panels with six large circular ventilation holes, central stitched seam along the dome from left to the right, the rear panel stamped in black ink "Kopfweite Gr. 58" over "Stahlhaube Nr. 68" (Head Width Size 58, Steel Hood Number 68) in a boxed insignia on the rear panel, maker mark stamped in black ink "Karl Heisler BERLIN C.2 D.R.G.H.3. (Deutsches Reich Gebraumeister) on the front panel, named in handwritten ink "Paul Waber 3A", with an indistinguishable regimental identification with a "7" after it on the left side, directly behind the exterior Luftwaffe eagle, seven large rubber pads between the leather liner and the liner's aluminum frame. The underside of the skirt is stamped "ET68" on the left side and "241" at the rear. A 70 mm long remnant of the dual Y-shaped pattern black leather chin harness with large aluminum eyelet remains affixed to the rear, the remainder having been severed from the helmet. Measures 215 mm x 252 mm x 135 mm in height. Scuffed exterior with contact marks and paint chipping, intact leather liner exhibits normal wear, exhibiting a 35 mm long interruption in the seam stitching in the dome and remains supple, in near extremely fine condition.
A steel helmet was designed that was specifically developed for paratroopers. Next to protecting the wearer from bullets and shrapnel, it was designed to protect the head from hard knocks that can occur on air drops. The peculiar shape was chosen in order to reduce the risk of the helmet fouling harness lines. Not only the outside differs from the standard steel helmets, the inside liner also had a unique design.
Helmets used in tropical climate areas often received a tan-coloured repaint. Sometimes the paint had sand mixed in. In wintery climate areas the helmets were often white-washed. Camouflage paratrooper helmets exist as well.
Just like the regular steel helmets, the insignia painted onto the paratrooper helmets were the Luftwaffe eagle on the left side and the tri-colour shield emblem on the right side. And just as with the regular steel helmets, the tri-colour shield was abolished in the summer of 1940. However, this was not always adhered to.
Since the Heer (Army) formed their own paratrooper unit, these helmets can be encountered with the army eagle decal as well.
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