Description

M40 SD Camo-wire Helmet: heavy steel combat helmet (1.6 kg, 3.5 lbs), double named, greenish-grey paint, stamped vent holes, single eagle decal is in 99% immaculate condition, full chicken wire camouflage netting with four anchor hooks, marked Q66 ( F.W. Quist, Esslingen, size 66 ), lot R897, inside helmet rim artistically lettered in cream colored paint to Uffz. (non-commissioned officer) Horath, plus his location, the fortress fort of Cherbourg - June 1944, the officer even left his thumb and forefinger print in wet paint on the front brim. Much older liner, moderate wear, named in two places to same man: K. S T. and K. S. Trauss (mostly erased but still readable), marked size 58. Leather chin strap is in heavily worn condition but still intact. I don't think this helmet ever left the barracks room inside Cherbourg based on the condition of the decal. The Germans surrendered Cherbourg about three weeks after D-Day (8000 killed, 30000 prisoners). Captured souvenir by a veteran of the 9th Inf Div, 709 Ord. Co. It is probably one of the finest M40 chicken wire helmets you will ever come across.