The most distinguishing feature of the German Armed Forces from WW1 and WW2 is undoubtedly their steel helmet. It's very
distinctive design afforded good protection against flying lead and metal and kept the rain from running down the
wearer's back. The most common complaint from the troops was that it impaired their hearing. One German veteran told me
that his helmet stopped him from hearing a British spitfire coming out of the clouds and straffing their column which
nearly got him killed. Only when he finally heard the bullets whizzing past his head did he realize they were under
attack.
It is estimated that over 25,000,000 German helmets were produced during the Third Reich. This is a picture of captured German helmets taken in May 1945 near the Dutch air field at
Hilversum in the Netherlands. The Canadians used this as an assembly point for surrendering Germans troops north of the
lower Rhine. Although the caption states these are all SS helmets, they aren't. Photo is courtesy of Darryl Pajot.
The steel helmets in my collection can be viewed on the menu at left by clicking Collectibles->My Collection->Steel Helmets.
Decals/Shields
In addition to their recognizeable outline, each military and para-military organisation that wore a helmet during the
Third Reich had their own distinctive decals and colours. This will cover helmets of the Armed Forces to include the
Waffen-SS and Police but not the other para-military organisations.
The left side had the organisation's decal and the right side had the national colours shield of red, white and black.
The exceptions to this were the SS and Police who had the NSDAP (also known as the Party or swastika) decal instead of
the national colours. In addition, the SS had the organisation shield (SS runes) on the right side and NSDAP shield on
the left. Click on the links below for samples of each decal.
Heer (Army): a closed wing eagle in silver on a swastika.
Kriegsmarine (Navy): a closed wing eagle in gold on a swastika.
Luftwaffe (Air Force): an eagle in flight clutching a swastika.
NSDAP: black swastika on a white background on a red shield.
Polizei (Police - Bordered): Police eagle with a border.
Polizei (Police - Unbordered): Police eagle without a border.
Waffen-SS (Armed SS): twin S runic symbols often called lightening bolts.
Model 1935 Steel Helmet
When the WW2 model made it's debut in 1935 (known as the Model 1935 or M35), it was smaller in size than it's WW1
brother. It also had a smaller air vent incorporating a separate bushing and sported a smooth finish, glossy paint and
two decals (or shields).
After war broke out, it quickly became apparent that the smooth finish, glossy paint and double decals were too visible
and made for easy targets. As a result, the finish on new and most existing M35 helmets was made rougher by painting
them in a dull paint that did not reflect light. In addition, the national colours and NSDAP shields were dropped on new
helmets and an order was issued to remove them from existing helmets leaving just the organisational decal in place. The
only organisation exempt from this order was the Police who continued to wear both decals on their helmets until the end
of the war. While most troops complied with the order, some did not.
| Air Vent | Rim/Edge |
|---|
 |  |
Model 1940 Steel Helmet
From 1940 to 1942, helmets were issued with only 1 decal. In 1940, the German helmet underwent a slight design change.
The design was basically the same as that of the Model 1935 except the air vent was embossed and did not have a separate
bushing. This was done to streamline production and reduce costs. Helmets were still produced with the organisational
decal in place.
| Air Vent | Rim/Edge |
|---|
 | |
Model 1942 Steel Helmet
In 1942, the German steel helmet underwent another design change. The embossed air vent was retained but the outer edge
was not crimped. This is referred to as a "raw edge" as oppsed to the rolled rim found on the model 1935 and 1940
helmets. For a short period of time, the M42 helmet was produced with the organisational decal. But from 1943 until the
end of the war, they were issued without decals except for the Police who continued to wear both decals for the
duration of the war.
| Air Vent | Rim/Edge |
|---|
|  |
Steel Helmet Makers
Most Third Reich helmets have the manufacturer's code
stamped on the inner left side of the helmet rim. The format consists of 1 or 2 letters
followed by 2 numbers such as SE60 or Q66. The letters
are the manufacturer's abbreviated name and the numbers are the shell size in metric
(centimeters). Shells were made in six sizes: 60, 62, 64, 66, 68 and 70.
| Abbreviation |
Manufacturer |
SE or hkp
SESt (duplicate) |
Saechsische Emailler-und Stanzwerke, AG Lauter, Saxony |
| EF or FS |
Emaillierwerke, AG Fulda |
| ET or ckl |
Eisen-und Huttenwerke, AG Thale/Harz |
| Q |
F. W. Quist, G.m.b.H., Esslingen |
| NS |
Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke, AG Schwerte |