An evolution of the World War I stahlhelm, the World War II-era stahlhelm is one of the most distinctive combat helmet designs of the 20th century, and the overall profile influenced many later designs. As a whole, the Nazis were early pioneers in the field of general-issue camouflage, but, except for their fabric work, this was ad-hoc improvisation by soldiers in the field using whatever material was at hand, typically paint intended to re-spray motor vehicles to match the environment. This one has been sprayed over with a tan base coat, two broad lines green forming a rough "X" across the top, and patches of darker brown between the lines, with rough traces of dirt for texture and a tight masking applied over the Luftwaffe service decal on the left side. Though not documented, this method and pattern was known to be in use with the defenders of the Normandy region. The use of a sand-colored tan base coat (in lieu of the more typical Heer green base coat) is associated with Luftwaffe helmets that were first sprayed tan for Afrika Korps service and later upgraded for Continental Europe. On the interior, "hkp64" is stamped in the left side of the skirt, "976" in the rear, "57" in ink on one of the rear webbing flaps and "Uffz.Wolf" hand-signed in the brow region. Included with the helmet is a December 1944 war trophy certificate made out to a PFC J.E. Richardsen(sic) for a "German Helmet" by a lieutenant with the 133rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion; neither Private Richardsen nor Unteroffizer Wolf have been positively identified, but the 133rd was assigned to the air defense of the Normandy Beach and Cherbourg region after D-Day.

Fine overall. The exterior shows scuffing and wear appropriate to field use, with a few cuts on the eagle decal, rubbing along the top and edges, and some play in the webbing bolts. The chinstrap is absent. The interior shows mild spotting on the metal, with some cracking of the leather.