A refinement of the 1935 stahlhelm, the 1940 model eliminated the vent grommets in favor of integrally stamped holes, saving production time. Finished in the traditional dark green, this helmet is accented with a pair of black-on-silver "dual sig rune/lightning bolts", decals of the Waffen-SS, in the traditional locations beneath the vents. This pattern of decoration is associated with a number of early SS combat formations, particularly the Germania Regiment. An early component of the SS-Verfuegungstruppe, Germania was among the earliest armed forces available directly to the SS and Hitler, predating the formal organization of the Waffen-SS. A participant in the invasion of France, Germania later became the nucleus of the 5th SS Panzer Division "Wiking" (originally formed as SS Division Germania and Waffen-SS Regiment Nordland), a unit made of Germans and foreign volunteers. The 5th participated in the invasion of Ukraine during Operation Barbarossa, and saw action in the advances of Stalingrad, Grozny, and the oil fields of Baku. Slowly driven back out of the Soviet Union in the later years of the war, the 5th eventually made its way far enough west to surrender to the Americans in Austria. The interior of the helmet is fitted with brown leather webbing and an unmarked chinstrap, "ET64" and "5044" stamped into the skirt, and "Joerg" in white paint in the rear; records show a SS-Hauptsturmfuehrer Hans-Joerg Hartmann as a commander with the 12th Company of the "Nordland" Panzergrenadier Regiment of the 5th SS, though no explicit documentation is available. The included helmet cover is made in the early SS "Vertical Plane Tree" pattern, printed in reversible "spring/summer" and "autumn" colors, with a set of three spring-loaded mounting hooks arranged around the back and sides. Developed in the late 1930s, Plane Tree was among the first of many camouflage patterns of the SS, which would continue to adjust and experiment with their camouflage until the war ended. Both the helmet and the cover can be seen on pages 176 and 177 of the book "SS Helmets" by Beaver & Hicks, in the chapter discussing variant helmets and decorations, including the Germania connection. Also included with the set is a photocopy of a certificate of authenticity from Robert Kondor (the attributed owner of the helmet in the aforementioned book), who testifies that he acquired both the helmet and the cover from a grandson of the original owner in 2004. While the grandson didn't reveal Joerg's first name, he did share that the original Joerg was born in 1916, joined Germania while it was still a SS-VT unit, acted as part of the 5th Panzer's cadre, and ended the war alive at the rank of SS-Oberscharfuhrer. Joerg returned to civilian life, and apparently retained the helmet and cover in spite of the Waffen-SS's status as a criminal organization, and later passed on in 2003.

The helmet is very good, with mild rust and handling marks. About half of the left side decal is present and legible, and over 90% of the right. The interior shows wear and staining appropriate to use, and the chinstrap may have been shortened. The cover shows some tearing in the front, otherwise is very good with mild stains and wear. Two scarce and desirable early Waffen-SS combat items.