WW2 Original German M40 ET64 Single Decal SS Helmet with Liner & Leather Chin Strap
SKU: GERMAN M40 SS SINGLE DECAL HELMET
Original/Reproduction: Original (Certified)
Availability: In-stock
Manufacturer: ET–Eisenhüttenwerke – Thale
Year Manufactured: 1940
Model: M40
Size: 64, 56cm - ET64 (Eisenhüttenwerke Thale, size 64 shell)
Insignia: SS Runic Decal, Textbook ET Style
Markings: ET64, Llot number “60,”
Construction: Made from a Single Piece of Pressed Manganese Steel
Liner: Original Wartime Leather with Drawstring
Chin Strap: Original Leather,Aluminum Buckle
Condition: Excellent
Price: $9,975.00
Seller Type: WW2C
Seller ID: JMW
Seller Code: EP-8000
Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.
Description:
This German SS M40 helmet is an exceptional, all-original example of a classic wartime combat helmet. Its history is notable—it was left in Finland by a wounded SS soldier who was cared for by the seller’s grandmother, a nurse serving with the Finnish Lotta Svärd organization.
The exterior retains nearly all of its original factory-applied paint, showing only minimal wear and a light age patina. The single SS runic decal is a textbook ET type, correctly matching the shell manufacturer. Despite light wear, the decal remains approximately 85% intact and displays excellent overall eye appeal.
Inside, the helmet is fully complete with its original wartime steel liner band. The liner leather is well-preserved, showing honest use and only light aging. A name once written inside has been scratched out, suggesting it may have been issued to more than one soldier during its service. The drawstring is still intact, and the liner bales retain their original chinstrap, complete with aluminum buckle. The long strap end is maker-marked and dated 1940.
All components remain untouched and original to the helmet. The interior skirt is stamped “ET64” (indicating manufacturer and size) along with placing it in the earlier production run of the M40 series.
Overall, this is a top-tier German SS M40 helmet—authentic, well-preserved, and with strong provenance—making it a standout addition to any serious collection.
Historical Context:
Helmets such as this were issued to Waffen-SS combat units on both the Eastern and Western Fronts, as well as in occupied territories. The M40 marked a transitional period when German helmet production shifted toward efficiency and mass deployment, reflecting the demands of a global conflict. Helmets with SS decals were worn by some of the most notorious formations of the war, making authentic examples historically significant but also carefully scrutinized for originality.
Collector Significance
An M40 ET64 SS Single Decal Helmet with its liner and original chin strap intact represents a highly desirable piece of militaria. The combination of size, maker, and condition underscores its rarity. Authentic examples continue to be centerpiece items in advanced collections of Third Reich militaria, valued both for their battlefield history and for their role in the broader material culture of World War II.
