Original M38 German para helmet army decal. Retrieved from Arnhem area
Unique Operation Market garden relic M38 fallshirmjager helmet. Although in relic condition the helmet has the full liner part rotted aluminum liner band, part rotted sorbo padding and skull sorbo complete. Chin straps complete apart from missing end to one side.
This helmet was found in a barn and has therefore survived nearly complete although the metal elements have suffered. The helmet has a legible army decal to one side.The helmet has had a late war Normandy Zimmatt finish period applied and a state decal may be under the Zimmatt. The helmet has a period chicken wire cover. The fixing bolts are slotted late war. The shell has battle damaged blast holes and some original apple green finish remaining where camo removed.
Helmet recovered above ground in the Arnhem area. Helmet is an M38 shell with a complete leather liner and rubber cushion pads.
Zinc liner band badly eroded but intact. Both chin straps in place and one side complete with buckle the other side missing the end of the strap.
The leather is supple and shrunk with no leather rot. Liner bolts are late war slotted steel. The remains of a single army decal clearly visible.
The applied zimmatt finish is mostly spalled revealing original apple green colour underneath The wire netting is good and complete. There are rusted holes that appear to be blast damage having penetrated the shell and parts of the liner. The newly formed 3rd and 7th para divisions raised in 1944 were dispatched to Arnhem to resist operation market garden invasion forces.
The new para units were made up of para veterans that had survived the capitulation of their original divisions, Luftwaffe flak units, army units and new recruits. My research suggest that this helmet was a re-issued old stock double decal army para helmet and refitted with a late war liner and slotted bolts. Obviously research should reveal the history of this helmet.
It is unlikely that another fallshirmjager helmet as complete and unique as the one offered here will be found let alone put up for sale. 100 % original army para helmet still retaining most of its original fittings and finish with an interesting provenance worthy of re-search.The helmet being offered is a unique find. You are welcome should you wish to call and discuss the helmet. I have listed all photos. The item "Original M38 German para helmet army decal.
Retrieved from Arnhem area" is in sale since Sunday, March 12, 2017. This item is in the category "Collectables\Militaria\World War II (1939-1945)\Helmets/ Hats". The seller is "thkubel" and is located in Croydon, Surrey. This item can be shipped to United Kingdom, to Austria, to Belgium, BG, HR, CY, CZ, DK, EE, FI, to France, to Germany, GR, HU, to Ireland, to Italy, LV, LT, LU, MT, to Netherlands, PL, PT, RO, SK, SI, to Spain, SE, to Australia, to United States, RU, to Canada, BR, to Japan, to New Zealand, to China, IL, to Hong Kong, NO, ID, to Mexico, KR, to Switzerland, to Taiwan, TH, SA, ZA, AE, UA.
- Type: Personal Gear
- Clothing Type: Helmets/ Hats
- Era: 1914-1945
- Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)
- Service: Air Force
- Country/ Organization: Germany
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany