rubbatiti Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 A friend of mine was recently given this rather distressed and corroded German(?) helmet and we were wondering if anyone could shed any light on its origins and age? It has a canvas chinstrap which I don't think would be correct for a WW2 era helmet although I could be wrong. More obvious is the attached grenadier type motif. Any ideas people? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlymb Posted December 5, 2016 Share Posted December 5, 2016 It seems to be either a M35 or M40 shell. Can you show the inside? There should be 2 separate codes stamped near the rim, probably in the neck and/or the side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REME 245 Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 Not German. Spanish or one of the South American users. Google it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubbatiti Posted December 6, 2016 Author Share Posted December 6, 2016 Thanks for your time guys, appreciated! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlymb Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 Spanish helmets have a bracket welded to the front and the other South-American helmets were usually ex-German... I would still look for those codes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubbatiti Posted December 6, 2016 Author Share Posted December 6, 2016 I'll have good squint at it later this week,I do know that it doesn't have the small 'loop' or bracket on the front like the Spanish helmets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ww2rupert Posted December 6, 2016 Share Posted December 6, 2016 There is a really good Facebook group called "German helmets buy swap sell" l I think there called? But beware they can be quite harsh to people posting fake or non genuine helmets, they should be able to help you Colin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotch Harry Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Think the Austrians post war used a German type helmet with a hole to one side for a similar badge but that looks WW2 so not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubbatiti Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 A pic. of the helmet liner. I couldn't see any obvious stamped markings on it but need to have proper look later on. The badge is attached via two wires soldered on the badges reverse, these going through the shell and folded over inside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlymb Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 Now that the rim is more clear it turns out this is an M42 helmet shell. The liner might be marked on the inside of the liner, and might also be stamped on the metal band. The chinstrap is not factory original but it might be made of surplus German webbing. For more information you could consider posting it on the warrelics-forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motorfahrer Posted December 8, 2016 Share Posted December 8, 2016 To the Austrian connection i can say that it is possible. Austria german helmets were used after the war. The badge reminds me of Austrian Gendarmerie and i can think of that they were used. At least the Voluntary Fire Corps used them well into the eighties. motorfahrer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubbatiti Posted December 8, 2016 Author Share Posted December 8, 2016 Again thanks for your help guys, I've just been Googling the Austrian Gendarmerie and this does indeed look to be the origins of the helmet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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