WORLD WAR 2 GERMAN ARMY/HEER M42 COMBAT HELMETWith HALF WIRE BASKET

  

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION A WORLD WAR 2 GERMAN M42 HEER/ARMY COMBAT HELMET WITH HALF BASKET CHICKEN WIRE FOR CAMO- THIS IS A SIZE ET62 ON SIDE OF RIM WITH A BATCH NUMBER OF 3512 ON BACK OF RIM-INSIDE HEADLINER LEATHER IS STIFF AGE- -BUT NOT BRITTLE- HEAD SIZE LINER STAMPED 55-ORIGINAL FELDGRAU COLOR WITH MILD SURFACE RUST-LOOKS TO BE ORIGINAL LINER -THERE ARE NO VISIBLE DECALS. Exterior displays wear with approx 95% of the factory paint remaining- liner system original to the helmet. Much dirt and dust buildup between liner band and shell. All three untouched split pin rivet fasteners intact. The liner I believe has never been removed and has been on the the helmet shell since it was assembled.

Leather liner is undamaged, But leather is very stiff with age-not brittle- Drawstring is in full length- unable to verify if original drawstring-There is no chinstrap with this helmet-Helmet in Overall very good condition. It is likely that M42s did not show up.

Until late 1942 if not 1943. Therefore few of these helmets made appearances during the major battle of 1942. It maybe possible that a few M42s did mange to make it to North African before the end of that campaign. If they were worn though it would have been near the end in Tunisia. Yet by mid 1943 original photos do start to show their usage in increasingly large numbers.

In 1944 these helmets would have been common place. Late-war formed units would have mostly received M42s with maybe a few reconditioned M40s and M35s.

The M42 Helmet was introduced on the 6th July, 1942, and was the last time German Helmets were upgraded during the war. They maintained much of the design of the M40 Helmets, but does not feature the rolled edge of it's predecessor. The M42 was the last generation of German combat steel helmets. The M42 ended an era that started in 1916 with the first German helmet. While the M42 with its simplified raw edge maybe not have been as flashy as its predecessors the helmet still did the trick, and protected German soldiers from Kursk to the fall of Berlin.

Waffen HEER troops with m42 helmet. Photo taken late in the war of two German soldiers wearing M42 helmets. The item "WORLD WAR 2 GERMAN ARMY/HEER M42 COMBAT HELMETWith HALF WIRE BASKET" is in sale since Wednesday, January 29, 2020. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Militaria\WW II (1939-45)\Original Period Items\Germany\Hats & Helmets".

The seller is "vonhorsten" and is located in Huntsville, Alabama. This item can be shipped to North, South, or Latin America, all countries in Europe, all countries in continental Asia, Australia.

1. Modified Item: No
2. Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany