Early DDR NVA M56 Stahlhelm

**Rik.S** · 02-18-2017, 04:36 PM

Hello guys,

This week I got this M56 helmet from a colleague. He wasn't interested in it and had it in his garage for years. Sadly the years in the garage didn't do the helmet and leather any good. It has some rust and the leather is a little dry.

After some searching on the forum I believe it is an early one. The chinstrap must be second type, as it has the cheek protectors. The following stamping is on the inside: II (for the size), 3 (month of production) and the year of production must be in the 60's, but the stamping is to faint to tell the exact year.

I was looking for an M56 and am happy to give this one a home.

Regards, Rik

Sorry for the photo's. My phone keeps putting them sideways.

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 02-18-2017 04:36 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Gunny Hartmann** · 02-19-2017, 12:11 PM

Nice to see an earlier example, you usually see the later M56/66 or M56/76. This one could be anywhere from the late 50s to 66!....

**Rik.S** · 02-19-2017, 01:49 PM

Thank you Gunny. I was also thinking the same and I'm very happy to have an early M56. A lot of later one's aren't even issued and I rather have a used one.

**Gunny Hartmann** · 02-19-2017, 03:11 PM

by Dschop

Thank you Gunny. I was also thinking the same and I'm very happy to have an early M56. A lot of later one's aren't even issued and I rather have a used one.

Indeed, my example is an M56/76 that is inissued!...

**Watchdog** · 03-18-2017, 07:20 PM

That's a nice "salty" M56

I would love to know how it ended up in a garage in your part of the world!

I don't think the leather looks too bad. I can't see any cracks or obvious weak points. I suggesst a rub over with a fairly stiff bristle brush such as a shoe brush (animal bristle rather than the Bahia type used for floors etc) to remove dust then wipe with a damp cloth followed by a good leather treatment such as Fiebings 4 Way Leather Care. This should make the leather more supple and pleasant to look at without taking any of the patina of age away.

Wipe the shell with a damp cloth then dry thoroughly and it will look much better for display.

Regards

Mark

**Rik.S** · 03-18-2017, 09:19 PM

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your advice.
I did try to treat the leather, but I was still looking for something to give it that 'good' treatment. Now I know what to look for.