Original WWII Waffen SS Double Decal German M40 COMBAT HELMET. (Stahlhelm M40) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified By The Gettysburg Museum Of History

OUTSTANDING Original WWII German Waffen SS  M40 COMBAT HELMET. (Stahlhelm M40) Brought Home By A U.S. Veteran Certified. 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, 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 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 an effort to reduced construction time and labor costs minor modifications were introduced in March 1940 resulting in the M40 helmet. Further construction modifications were undertaken in August 1942 resulting in the M42 helmet. The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), the SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), the SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units) and eventually the Waffen-SS, (Armed-SS), were also allocated quantities of the assorted models of helmets through-out the war. Originally SS personnel didn’t utilized any helmet insignia until the first pattern runic SS helmet decals with silver runes on a black field were introduced on February 23RD 1934, but were only worn for a short time by SS-VT personnel. On August 12TH 1935 the black runic SS helmet decal on a silver shield shaped base and the NSDAP party shield decal were both introduced for wear by all SS personnel. Regulations of March 21ST 1940 dictated that the NSDAP party shield decal was to be removed from all helmets and further regulations of November 1ST 1943 abolished the SS runic decal and dictated that it was also to be removed from all helmets although the directives were not completely adhered to. Of Note: The SS runic decal underwent a minor modification sometime early in the war with the runes being somewhat less angular.  Helmet retains most of it’s original textured dark green paint.  SS runic decal retained about 94%. Party shield decal retained about 93%. All three liner retaining rivets intact. Interior neck guard apron serial number stamped, “1915”, and left side apron stamped, “Q66”,for F.W. Quist, G.m.b.H. Esslingen, size 66. Nice complete original M31 tan leather liner. Original tie string intact. Has the original complete chinstrap. Since the decals remain it is a good chance this could have been from a concentration camp guard since they usually wore this type of double decal helmets with the decals unremoved. This helmet was pulled out of the woods about 30 years ago from a Veteran buy and had been in a single collection ever since! This is the first time this helmet had been offered! AMAZING! This it the best SS double decal we have ever offered! A real investment grade one looker holy grail helmet!  In OUTSTANDING but used condition . Gettysburg Museum Certified (COA) provided. 100% Guaranteed to be authentic brought home by a U.S. Veteran. Sold for historic purposes only. See our other pieces on our web site. Also note when browsing our web site there are several pages of items, at the bottom of the list look for other page numbers. EXCELLENT TRUE COMBAT VET BRING BACK  HELMET! Outstanding CONDITION! DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!