Utah Beach German Helmet

[Guest]

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Hi guys, I didn't know where to post this, but wanted to share it as I'm sure it will interest someone.

I currently live in France, and got this helmet from another Brit who's a retired teacher. He used to take the kids on trips to Normandy to tour the invasion beaches. He told me how his foot caught on something outside a concrete bunker on Utah Beach (this was in the 1970s), and at first he thought it might be a shell. However, he took a closer look and the pulled the above helmet out of the ground.

It has no liner or chin strap and is very small, although it does fit my head. Can't see any decals.

Hope you enjoy : ) I've got some other bits and bobs too if anyone's interested : )

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[Guest]

is that forward hole supposed to be there? never seen that before.

[Guest]

Hi Norm, yes, it's on all the helmets I've seen. I think there was a rivet there at some point, although I've seen a lot with this exact same hole.

[Guest]

I wonder what story this could tell? An amazing piece.

[Ian M]

The hole at the front was indeed on all M42 hats and was closed off with a rivet. As Of yet I have yet to fine what it was for. The few pictures I have found of the inside it looked to me as there was nothing actually attached to this rivet! The Hole on the side above where the badge would have been is a vent hole, also to be found on all m42's.

Ian M

[stona]

That's amazing! By a spooky coincidence a friend of mine,an Aussie living in Sweden who keeps an eye out for luftwaffe stuff on my behalf, recently sent me a series of pictures of a German helmet,but didn't tell me what it is exactly. If anyone can cast any light on this for me it would be much appreciated. This is definitely not my area!

Cheers

Steve

[Gern]

Isn't that a German Paras' helmet?

Gern

[Ian M]

It looks very much like a M38 ET68 fallschirmjäger. He will do well to keep it in a safe place. They sell for around US$5000 in fair condition. That one looks like its in Very Good condition. A 'normal German brainbox sells for about a grand......

Nice one.

Ian M

[stona]

Bloody hell,that's a lot of money for a tin hat! I'll let my mate Taz know. Thanks for the info Ian.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

Steve, the shape of the helmet does indeed look like a Fallschirmjäger type, and Ian's right, they go for a small fortune!

[Guest]

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Here's another from my collection, this time USAAF. A-14 oxygen mask, B-8 goggles (I still have the original box and spare lenses in various colours), and an M-3 flak helmet. All I need now is the leather flying helmet.

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