M38 FJ Single Decal

Picked this one up at the SOS this year. Big thanks for @student of history (Chris) for finding it and helping me vet it. Been looking for a good one for awhile now but was waiting for the right one and this was it. Has the right amount of wear for my liking.

I think the lot number is 2255 and if so it is reported in Brian's book. But very tough to make out the lot number. Maybe @M45 will give his opinion on time frame for this helmet.

A very nice M38 !! Yes, the lot number is looking like 2255 to me as well. I would say 1941 production. I believe the ET M40 lot numbers in the 500-6500 lot number range indicate 1941 production. Roughly 500 lots per month, 12 months production would be about 6000 lots for 1941. M38s were made from the same lot sequences as ET M35/M40/CKL M42s, just much more infrequently due to the smaller runs.

If there were 250,000 German paratroopers in WWII and each was issued an M38 helmet, 250,000 is only 1% of the 25 million combat helmets produced by all factories during the war.

Thanks Brian! In your book you have lot no. 2255 reported and it seems to have the same details: rough texture green paint, aluminum band, single decal

Here are some pictures in the day light

So basically your helmet went to Crete. Basically.

mrfarb said:

So basically your helmet went to Crete. Basically.

Click to expand...

IMO certainly possible according to my production theory. 2255 would be March 1941 production.

Hi everyone, nice helmet. I know nothing about helmets but I know a couple of things about paratroopers.
Is there any clue about the survival rate of those helmets?
If it was made and issued before 20 May 1941, yes, chances are it went to Crete at some point.
What’s more surprising is that it survived (depending on the regiment the soldier belonged to) the winter of 41-42, the winter of 42-43, Egypt/Libya/Tunisia, Sicily or the retreat from Ukraine.
I guess its owner lost it sometime in 1944 or 1945 to an American GI.
It could be Normandy, siege of Brest, Holland/Market Garden, Ruhr Kessel, etc.

Numbers of early DD M38s have been seen, and even a very few M36s and M37s, most converted to the M38 liner/strap arrangement of course. Other early helmets, such as M35s to have survived are the DD SS blackies. Many of these were re-converted back to green for combat, but it is amazing that any of these blackies have survived. I understand that while the Germans were winning during the first half of the war, they would retrieve all serviceable equipment from the battle fields and restore/reissue them.

Great looking helmet. Maybe a camo next??

That’s a great helmet buddy. Very happy to have been able to lend you a hand. Your patience finally paid off!