UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Helmet Forum Ss Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler Stahlhelm

A couple year back I attended a local Veterans estate sale. He had been the local(very small town) bank manager for several years. He had been a decorated Veteran of the 3rd Infantry Division and had seen service from North Africa to Italy and France and Germany to Austria. He was present at both the battle at Nurnberg and the Ober Saltzburg to Berchtesgaden. This helmet had sat on a shelf in his bank office for a while before finally coming to my possession. It has been looked at by several other collectors, one of which I understand is persona non grata here but obviously has more knowledge than myself and has conducted himself as a gentleman to me at any time. But there are others that have checked it out as well. I have turned down offers for it. Not for sale obviously. It is painted black by hand and the brush strokes are obvious. The outside had been rubbed or polished until the strokes aren't as clear. The liner is an aluminum M31 that is BRAUNSCHWEIG 1931 marked. The shell is an ET66. The chinstrap has the carabiner clip and buckle.

Cool looking thing.. Best is to have one of the helmet gurus look at it,,,but which one?,,they are always calling each other out it seems like..

- Were they like this that you know of?? Have you seen or heard of another like this??

I spoke with Kelly Hicks and he looked at it and authenticated it. The first helmets used by the SS Liebstandarte Adolf Hitler were like this. They were supposed to have been turned in and melted down and used to make the new M35's. According to Hicks, before this one surfaced, there were only 3 in known existence.

Gijoe,

That is an interesting helmet. We've all seen the photos like you posted above, but never seen an actual one up close.

You seem to have some great items - can you show us more ?

Dave