Helmet – M38 Fallschirmjäger – single decal camouflage helmet

Arguably the helmet was the most recognizable part of the individual German soldiers appearance. With a design that derived from the type used in world war one, the German helmet offered more protection then ones used by it’s enemies. The quality field gray painted steel helmet with two decals and rolled steel rim and leather liner was a labor intensive product and simplified as the war progressed. The earliest model helmet used in world war two was the model 35 or M35 Stahlhelm. During the war the helmet was simplified in 2 stages. In 1940 the airvents changed from separate rivets affixed to the helmet shell to stamped in the main body of the shell. In 1942 a new model was introduced where the rim of the shell was left sharp and not rolled over as previous models. These models are known in the collector community as M40 and M42. The low sides that protect the neck and ears, the tell tale design that the Germans introduced in 1935 can still be seen in modern day army helmets.

Model: Luftwaffe M38 (Fallschirmjäger)
Decal: Single Luftwaffe decal
Paint: Factory applied dull field Feldgrau or gray paint with rough aluminium oxide. finished with a rough two tone Rautarn camouflage paint
Markings: unreadable
Maker: Eisen- u. Huettenwerke, Thale, Harz
Notes: A beautiful camouflaged paratrooper helmet that was discovered just last year, south of the Netherlands in the village of Ospel. On the 27th of October 1944 the first battalion of Fallschirmjäger Lehr Regiment 21 under the command of Hauptmann Fischer attacked the small village of Ospel. During the taking of the village one helmet remained in the neighborhood of a farm where it remained until 2019. This helmet was worn into combat by a member of Fallschirmjäger Lehr Regiment 21 which was part of Kampfgruppe Hermann.

Niek Hendrix collection

These items are part of the reference – not for sale!