German WWII Army M35 Single Decal Combat Helmet

The M35 helmet is a landmark piece of German military history, marking the shift to a standardized combat design used throughout the Second World War. This particular helmet offers a direct view into the wartime process of refurbishment and reuse. Originally issued as a double decal M35, it was subsequently factory or depot refurbished, a common practice intended to comply with the 1940 directive to remove the national tricolor shield.

The evidence of this transition is clearly visible: the outline of the tricolor decal can still be discerned, where the paint has cured or aged differently over the decal area compared to the bare steel of the helmet shell. The original Army decal, however, remains clear and well-preserved. The helmet received a refurbished light grey wood chip finish, which is virtually complete, though the wood chip texture has strayed slightly over the lower left arm of the Swastika on the Army decal.

The shell is marked EF66 and the batch number is 21446. The interior features the original M35 aluminium liner band, which is complete. The leather liner itself shows signs of hard use, with one tongue missing and a large tear below another tongue. A piece of personal history remains on the leather, with one wearer's name written onto the liner, and the size 58 is ink stamped below. The chinstrap is missing.

Ref; 95136