Stahlhelm M40 Lot. Nr. D(?)N 232(?) SD WH(?)

[Oberschutze]

Hi,
Here are some photos of the remains from a battledamaged german M40 steel helmet, which was found in the positions where in 1944.december - 1945. march was stationed grenadier regiment 502 (290. Infantry division/ Wehrmacht), with other units. The helmet was in corner of a collapsed bunker, under field constructed bed made from thin poles made out of thin birches, covered with spruce branches, straws- which greatly "merited" to the poor condition of the helmet being organic material in contact with metal. The M40 helmet had steel m31 linerband which was held with steel split pins. The chinstrap had steel belt buckle, rivetts. The leather liner has remains of in ink stamp B58 representing size 58/59?. At some point helmet had decal which was overpainted it seems.
With best regards,

[Ian Hayes]

Did you dig these helmets yourself? Nice group of them.

[Oberschutze]

Did you dig these helmets yourself? Nice group of them.

You could say so partially- it is a team work, because it is very difficult to recover items from a collapsed bunkers, digging through layer of clay often exceeding 1 meter, then remains from the ceiling which consists of the logs. It also requires to have trustworthy friends- for example i keep helmet from this bunker, he gets helmet from the next.