WW II German M-40 Helmet

This helmet is the German M-40 model which supplanted the M-35 model. This model was faster to produce, and cheaper to produce as well. The helmet has 90% of the original paint, and has an olive green canvas strap from a breadbag wrapped around the helmet for camouflage purposes. Foliage can be inserted under the strap. The liner is original to the helmet. This helmet was manufactured in 1943. By this time in the war no insignia was applied to the helmets in order to cut costs in production. As was common, the soldier painted his name in the rear apron of the helmet. This identifies him as a Waffen SS soldier by the name of Borlack, and the rank of Schutze, which is a private. The Waffen SS was considered the elite of the German land based forces.