How to Age a German Helmet From WWII

Origins

• 1

  Consider the shape of the helmet. The Stahlhelm used between 1939 and 1945 are flanged along the rim and arched over the area covering the ears. This helmet changed from the earlier version used during World War I. The M1940 was a modification from the M1935 to simplify it by merely punching holes to act as vents rather than having a vent cap over the holes. Check with a museum or retailer.

• 2

  Check for German or Nazi insignia that will mark most of the M1942 helmet models. They were the result of wartime restructuring to the manufacturing process. You can tell the difference form police helmets worn away from combat fields by the dual insignia of the police eagle on the left and the National Socialist Party on the right. This helmet was made from 1935 to 1945 and is painted with gray or gray-green.

• 3

  Check other aspects of the helmet. The Fallschirmjäger version of the helmet was made to better protect paratroopers. There is a more substantive chinstrap than in earlier models. The Fallschirmjäger is a variation on the M1935 design. Look for one sheet of metal that removed the unneeded projections. Early models can be identified by the lines from the remanufacturing from earlier M1935 helmets.

• 4

  Determine if the helmet has less of a flange around the edge. This was done to speed up the manufacturing process for the M1942. The edge along the rim flares out a bit but not as much as earlier models. This was done to speed up the manufacturing process and used less metal. Insignias were not put on these helmets to help reduce combat visibility.

• 5

  Compare the helmets to photos of other helmets. The Felduniform 44 model was designed in 1944. Look for one piece of metal with sloped sides. It was similar to a British helmet.

• 6

  Check to see if there are no ventilation holes in the helmet. The M1945 German helmet was a rare model that was manufactured only during the last few months of World War II. Collectors and historians argue about the existence of the M1945. Some say that it is only an M1942 made in a factory experiencing a malfunction, eliminating the vent hole. Regardless, you have a rare helmet if this is the case.