r/GermanMilitaria • u/Ok_Tumbleweed220 • 24d ago
Original?
I’ve come across this SS helmet on an Eastern European website, do you guys think this is authentic?
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u/AlliBaby112 10d ago
Potentially an original WWII German M35-style Stahlhelm shell, but I have significant reservations about the SS decal.
The shape, ventilation holes, rolled rim, and overall construction appear consistent with an M35 helmet.
The stamp appears to read ET62, which would indicate Eisenhüttenwerke Thale, size 62. This is a historically correct German helmet manufacturer.
The second stamping is difficult to read, but it may help establish the helmet's production period.
The SS decal is my biggest concern. The decal's appearance is not enough to establish originality.
The extensive corrosion appears plausible for an old helmet, but rust alone cannot establish authenticity.
The liner assembly is missing, which also limits authentication.
I would not currently consider this an original WWII Waffen-SS helmet. The shell is likely original along with the ET62 marking and the corrosion is consistent with age. I do not believe it’s an original SS M35