German Air Force 1933-45

Brown leather construction with net, sheepskin-lined interior, manufacturer label “Netzkopfhaube Gr. 5..., Baumuster L.Kp.101 Geräte-Nr. 124-452. A-2 Werk-Nr -/Striwa Anf.Z. Ln 26670 Hersteller hdc”, with cable, plug connector and throat microphones. Condition 2.

Gray-blue wool cloth, trimmed throughout with silver piping, complete with cap eagle and cockade in enlisted ranks pattern, hand-sewn. Interior with gray sweatband and silk lining, size marked 56. Condition 2.

Blue-gray paint finish, the Luftwaffe eagle approximately 80 percent retained and the national shield approximately 90 percent retained. The helmet shell is stamped internally on the side with “ET68” and at the rear with “4309”. Interior with leather liner on aluminum ring, size marking 60, chin strap with maker marking “..... 1939”. The interior liner was installed at a later date and the rivets are not period-correct and were manufactured after 1945. Condition 2.

Private collection piece, gabardine wool fabric, complete with Luftwaffe eagle and wing in aluminum, Waffenfarbe (branch color) golden brown. Interior with brown sweatband and black silk lining, celluloid diamond damaged, head size approx. 56. Moth damage, condition 2.

Chamber piece, circa 1943. Manufactured from sand-colored cloth, complete with all insignia. Cap eagle and cap soutache in Bevo-woven execution in sand-colored cloth, machine-sewn, with neck flap and original black leather chin strap. Interior with red lining, chamber stamp “1943 RB-Nr.9/1318/0014”, size 53. Clearly worn, one small hole on the crown and left side at the national eagle, in untouched original condition, condition 2-.

Personal item circa 1936. Spanish manufacture, thin cloth, hand-embroidered rank stars in metal thread on the front. Interior with light silk lining, bearing owner's name “V.Schuler” and unit designation A88 and He 45. Size approximately 56. Worn, condition 2. Very rare.

Blue-gray original paint approximately 60% intact, Luftwaffe eagle 1st pattern approximately 75% present and national shield approximately 80% present. The helmet shell is stamped internally on the side with "ET64" and at the rear with "3304". With original liner on aluminum ring and chinstrap. Head size approximately 58. Condition 2-3.

Green-brown camouflage paint, beneath which the gray-blue paint is visible, covered with wire, Luftwaffe eagle approximately 70 percent preserved and national shield approximately 65 percent preserved. The helmet shell is stamped inside at the neck with “S 163” and on the side with “ET66”. With leather liner on the metal ring, the chinstrap has been shortened, head size marked “60”. Wire corroded, condition 2-.

white linen, lightly lined, size approx. 56, condition as shown.

circa 1944. The distinctive rough camouflage paint in light green/sand/yellow with thick black camouflage stripes, paint approximately 80% intact, flaked off in some areas. The Luftwaffe eagle decal is 75% preserved on the side. Interior retains original dark green factory paint with stamp “ET 66” on the side and “5059” at the neck. Complete with liner on aluminum ring and gray foam padding as well as original chinstrap, stamping in liner “Kopfweite Gr. 55, Stahlhelm.-Gr. 66” and manufacturer “Baumuster... Hersteller...” (illegible). Well-worn helmet, all parts original and untouched, condition 2-3.
Extremely rare, one of very few originals.

Brown leather construction, lined interior, manufacturer label: “Fl. Kopfhaube Gr. 58, Baumuster LKp W101, Gerät-Nr. 124-436A, Werk-Nr. -/ Striwa, Anf. Z. Ln26618, Hersteller Siemens- Lieferer: Luftfahrtgerätewerk Hakenfelde GmbH”. Complete with connection cord and plug, as well as throat section with laryngophone microphones. Condition 2.

Cloth construction with leather straps. Interior marked with Reichsbetriebsnummer (Reich manufacturing number) and size "55". Condition 2.

Gray-blue wool with eagle and cockade for enlisted men, hand-sewn. Interior lined with size marking 54. Condition 2.

Cloth construction, with leather straps and leather ear cups, interior with manufacturer label. “Fl. Kopfhaube Gr. 60, Baumuster LKp S101, Gerät-Nr. 124-436 B, Anf.Z. Ln 26617, Siemens Lieferer: Luftfahrtgerätewerk Hakenfelde GmbH”, complete with connecting cord and plug, as well as throat section with laryngophone microphones, Condition 2.

Elegant saddle-form circa 1939, removable cap cover made of white waffle cloth. Complete with all insignia, the national eagle hand-embroidered in metal thread on white cloth backing, the eagle is affixed with clips, cap wreath in hand-embroidered metal thread execution. Interior brown sweatband, gold silk lining, celluloid diamond with maker's mark “Erel Berlin Sonderklasse”, worn condition, size approximately 57.

So-called “Sou'wester”. Chamber piece, rubber construction with wide neck protection brim, light-colored lining inside, with stamps “L.P.B. 1937”, “Bdfl.1937” and “L.B.A.B.37”. Condition 2.

Shell was contemporarily overpainted with a light diamond pattern camouflage. The blue-gray paint is approximately 80% intact, Luftwaffe eagle decal was partially exposed and is approximately 20% visible, the national shield decal is approximately 70% intact. The helmet shell has an illegible marking inside at the neck area. With original liner on metal ring and chinstrap. Head size approximately 56. Leather liner damaged, condition 2-.

Blue-gray paint finish, the Luftwaffe eagle approximately 50 percent retained and the national shield approximately 60 percent retained. The helmet shell is stamped internally on the side with "ET62" and at the neck with "3823". Interior with leather liner on aluminum ring, size marking 55. The interior liner was replaced at a later date and is somewhat loose, leather liner damaged, condition 2-.

Saddle-form construction, blue-gray wool. Complete with national eagle and Luftwaffe wing insignia in hand-embroidered execution. Interior with brown sweatband and light silk lining, damaged celluloid diamond, sweatband with blind embossing “Erel Patent Stirnschutz”, head size approximately 56. The frame is creased in 2 places, condition 2.

Brown leather construction, lined interior, manufacturer label: “Fl. Kopfhaube Gr. 57, Baumuster LKp S101, Gerät-Nr. 124-438A, Werk-Nr. -/, Anf. Z. Ln26618, Hersteller Siemens-Apparate u. Maschinen G.m.b.H.”. Complete with connecting cord and plug, as well as throat section with laryngophone microphones. Interior right earphone damaged, condition 2.

blue-gray paint, on the left side the Luftwaffe eagle 50% preserved, national shield 85% present. Inside the shell stamped laterally “Q66” and at the nape “5170”. With liner on aluminum ring and chin strap. Size approx. 60. Aluminum ring is damaged and lies partially loose in the shell, surface partially with flash rust. Worn, condition 3.

Green camouflage paint approximately 90% intact, beneath which the blue-gray paint finish is still partially visible. The helmet shell is stamped internally on the side with "Q62" and at the rear with "DN161". Complete with liner on aluminum ring and damaged chin strap, head size approximately 55. Condition 2.

The camouflage paint in sand, brown and green, approximately 85% of the paint preserved. The helmet shell is stamped internally on the side with "EF62" and at the rear with "3808". With liner on the metal ring and chinstrap, head size approximately 55. Condition 2.

Blue-gray paint finish, on the left side the Luftwaffe eagle 1st pattern 90% retained and the national shield 95% present. Inside the shell stamped laterally with "ET66" and at the rear with "4163" as well as owner's initials "G.F.". With liner on aluminum ring and chin strap. Size marking "57". Leather liner stained, condition 2.

The helmet is a late production variant from 1944, with thick “sandy” camouflage paint in brown/green over 90% preserved, beneath which is the original dark green paint. The helmet shell is stamped in the neck area with “ckl 68” over “4649” (?), manufactured by Eisen- u. Huettenwerke, Thale, Harz. With leather liner on light metal ring, stamped “R.-Betr.-Nr. 0/0471/0048 KopfgröÃe 57 StahlhelmgröÃe 68”. The late aluminum slotted screws from 1943 onwards were painted over externally with the camouflage paint. Complete with leather chinstrap made of inferior material and simplified friction buckle of zinc sheet metal. The steel helmet shows clear wear, still uncleaned, in untouched original condition, condition 2. The helmet was English war booty, returning to Germany for the first time since 1945.

Cloth construction with leather straps and leather ear cups, interior with manufacturer label. “Standard Pattern LKp S101, Ln 26617, Siemens, Striegel und Wagner Kom.Ges. Lichtenfels/ Bayer.Ostmark Size 55”, complete with connection cord and plug, as well as throat section with laryngophone microphones, Condition 2

Blue-gray paint was overpainted with splinter camouflage finish. The shell is stamped in the neck with "Q64 DN524". With liner on the metal ring, chin strap is intact, dated 1936 with manufacturer "Wilhelm Bilers Bielefeld". Size approximately 57, condition 3.

circa 1938, so-called “Sou'wester”. Made of rubber covered with linen, wide neck protection brim, interior with acceptance stamp “LBAB” as well as Reconnaissance Group 121, Neuhausen 1938, size 56. Condition 2.

Blue-gray paint finish, on the left side the Luftwaffe eagle 1st model 90% intact and the national shield 80% present. Interior of the shell stamped on the side with "ET66" and at the rear with "3088". With liner on aluminum ring and chinstrap. Size approximately 56. Chinstrap with manufacturer marking "Voegel..... 1941". Leather liner stained, condition 2.

Brown leather construction with net, sheepskin lined interior, manufacturer label “Netzkopfhaube Gr. 61, Baumuster L.Kp.101 Geräte-Nr. 124-Werk Nr -| K.H.sl Anf.z. 43 Ln 26670 Hersteller bxo Juni 1941”, with cable, plug and throat microphones. Condition 2.

Manufactured circa 1943. Gray-blue gabardine wool fabric. Complete with hand-embroidered metal thread national eagle insignia in gold and hand-embroidered cockade with gold border, gold piping throughout and two textured gilt buttons on the front. Interior with silk lining, size approximately 54 1/2. Four small holes on the crown, condition 2.

Brown leather construction, sheepskin lined interior, Condition 2.

Dark blue cloth, head size approximately 57. Included is a postcard-size photograph of the wearer. Condition 2.

Brown leather construction, sheepskin lined interior, manufacturer label has been removed. Size approximately 56. One seam has come loose at top, adjustment strap missing, condition 2-.

Cork construction, covered with sand-colored linen, complete with both insignia, eagle and national shield in non-ferrous metal, with shortened and damaged brown chin strap. Interior sweatband stamped with size 56. Worn condition, condition 2-.

Blue-grey paint finish, on the left side the Luftwaffe eagle 2nd model and on the right side the national shield approximately 85% intact. Interior shell stamped “SE60” on the side and “3956” at the rear. With liner on aluminum ring and chinstrap. Chinstrap with manufacturer marking “Singer ..... 1941”, size approximately 52. Leather liner damaged, condition 2.

Chamber piece, circa 1942/43. Manufactured from sand-colored cloth, complete with all insignia. Cap eagle and cap soutache braid in Bevo-woven execution made of sand-colored cloth, hand-sewn, with intact black leather chin strap in the special execution for this cap. Interior with red lining, chamber stamp “RB-Nr. 0/0350...”, size 57. Unissued, condition 2+.
Extremely rare to find in this condition.

Circa 1942. High elegant saddle-form construction, made of fine Luftwaffe cloth, complete with metal thread hand-embroidered insignia. Interior with light-colored sweatband with black velvet edge, light yellow lining, under the celluloid diamond with manufacturer marking “PeKüro Stirndruckfrei Deutsches Reichspatent”. Size 55. The cap shows light wear, with a few small moth holes on the crown, sweatband slightly damaged at front, Condition 2.

Blue-gray paint approximately 40% remaining, the Luftwaffe eagle approximately 80 percent preserved and the national shield approximately 50 percent preserved. The helmet shell is stamped internally on the side with "EF64" and at the rear with "4118". Interior with leather liner on aluminum ring and chinstrap with maker's mark "Carl Tesch Berlin 1937", size marking 56. Condition 2.

The original gray-blue paint has been overpainted in field gray, the helmet shell is stamped internally at the neck with "2829" and on the side with "ET62". With leather liner on aluminum ring and chinstrap. Size: 55. Rear helmet rivet has been replaced. Worn, condition 3.

circa 1938. Blue-gray paint finish, on the left side the Luftwaffe eagle 2nd model 80% intact and the national shield 75% present. Interior of the shell stamped on the side with “SE 62” and at the neck with “3559”. Leather liner on aluminum ring and chinstrap. Size approximately 56. Rear with painted owner designation “Joseph Pier 7/03/38 FSAILuft 437145.IV.” (7/03/38 identity disc number, field post number 43714 = Flak-Geräte-Ausgabestelle 5/VI). Worn helmet, condition 2.

circa 1942. Elegant high saddle-form crown, cloth in fine officer quality. Complete with hand-embroidered bullion wire cap eagle and cockade. Interior with light-colored sweatband, yellow silk lining, on the celluloid diamond with maker's designation in gold “G B - Luxus”, size 58. Lightly worn, condition 2.

Body constructed of riveted steel plates with brown leather covering and head pad, lateral cutouts for the ear cups of the flight hood, complete with a replaced chin strap. Linen inner liner with sewn-in manufacturer's label “Siemens Baumuster SSK 90 Hersteller: Luftfahrtgerätewerk Hakenfelde GMBH Striwa Kopfgröße 60-62”. Condition 2.

Blue-gray paint has a slight glossy sheen, the national eagle decal has been scraped off on the side. Interior side marking “hkp64” and at the nape “12388”, comes with leather liner on metal ring. Rust traces inside the helmet dome, chinstrap is period, condition 2-

Blue-gray paint heavily darkened on exterior, national eagle decal on side. Interior side marked “ET64” and “74?” at rear, comes with leather liner attached to metal ring. Heavy rust traces inside helmet crown, liner is damaged, only the long leather tab of the chinstrap is period correct, the short piece is a replacement, condition 3-

Brown leather construction with net, lined with sheepskin, manufacturer label: “Netzkopfhaube Gr. 57, Baumuster L.Kp.101 Geräte-Nr. 124-452.A2 Werk Nr...... Ln26670,” with connection cord, throat section and laryngophone microphones. Net heavily damaged, condition 3-.

Gray-blue wool cloth, trimmed throughout with silver piping, complete with cap eagle and cockade in enlisted ranks pattern, hand-sewn. Interior with gray sweatband and light silk lining, size approximately 55. Stained, several holes, sweatband and national eagle damaged, condition 2-.

Brown leather construction, lined with sheepskin, Reichsbetriebsnummer (Reich company number) and size marking "57". Condition 2.

Cloth construction, with leather straps and leather ear cups, interior with manufacturer label “Fl. Kopfhaube Gr. 56, Baumuster LKp S101 Gerät-Nr. 124-436B, Werk-Nr. 43 -/ K.Hsl Anf. Z. Ln. 26617, Manufacturer bxo. (= Deutsche Telephonwerk und Kabelindustrie A.-G.”. Condition 2.

Early cork construction, covered with sand-colored linen, complete with both insignia in bronze-colored metal, brown chin strap lies backward on the neck guard. Interior without stamps, size approximately 57. Lightly worn, condition 2.

the camouflage paint in sand color, red-brown and green, the paint approximately 80% retained, on the left side the Luftwaffe eagle is completely overpainted. The helmet shell interior stamped on the side with “EF64”, at the neck with “117?5”. With liner on the metal ring, chin strap is damaged. Worn piece, condition 3

Circa 1938. Elegant saddle form, detachable crown cover of white waffle weave fabric. Complete with metal bullion hand-embroidered eagle affixed to metal plate, visor band with cockade. Interior with light-colored sweatband, side marked with silver manufacturer “Erel” peak protector..., white silk lining, beneath the celluloid diamond with manufacturer “Verkaufsabteilung der Luftwaffe Berlin SW68 Puttkamerstrasse 16/18 - Erel Sonderklasse Extra”. Size approximately 55. Lightly worn, condition 2.

Chamber piece, circa 1943. Construction of sand-colored cloth, complete with all insignia. Cap eagle and cap soutache in Bevo-woven execution in sand-colored cloth, machine-sewn, without neck flap, with officer's cap cord. Interior with red lining, chamber stamp “76/1943”, size 59. Lightly worn, condition 2-.

Circa 1942. Fur construction with front visor and side flaps. With sewn-on Luftwaffe eagle and cockade, size approximately 55. Stained, fabric edges damaged, condition 2.

A typical cap for the Luftwaffe Field Division, designed after experiences during the winter campaign in Russia.

Manufactured from black drill cloth, national eagle insignia missing, size marked “56”. Label removed, condition 2.

Circa 1944. Soft elegant saddle form, made of fine Luftwaffe cloth, complete with all insignia. The national eagle in hand-embroidered metal thread execution, the cap wreath hand-embroidered in celleon, partly in metal thread. The cap piping also in celleon, gold cap cords. Interior with light brown sweatband with black edge, side stamped with maker's mark “Erel Stirnschutz Patent”, light green silk lining, the celluloid diamond undamaged, beneath it blind-stamped manufacturer's designation “Verkaufsabteilung der Luftwaffe Erel Sonderklasse Privat.... .. ”. Size approximately 59. Lightly worn, condition 2. A very fine visor cap.

Visor caps for Luftwaffe generals are considerably rarer than those of the Wehrmacht. The Luftwaffe had a total of only 688 generals.

Camouflage cover in Splinter pattern (printed on both sides), bottom with 6 sewn-in magnetic hooks for attachment to the helmet. The camouflage cover is clearly worn, the camouflage pattern faded, with typical signs of wear, condition 2-3. Extremely rare.

Cork construction, covered with sand-colored linen, complete with both insignia in non-ferrous metal, sand-colored chinstrap. Interior with leather lining, reverse of leather lining marked with head size "56". One part of chinstrap missing, condition 2.

Brown leather construction, lined with sheepskin, manufacturer label “Fl. Kopfhaube Gr... Baumuster LKpW101 Gerät-Nr. 124-436A, Werk-Nr. ..., Anf.Z. Ln 26618, Hersteller Siemens-Apparate u. Maschinen G.mb.H.”. Size approximately 58.

Circa 1941/42. High elegant saddle-crown form, with white cap cover made of cotton cloth, removable, complete with all insignia. The national eagle in hand-embroidered metallic thread execution on white cloth, reverse side with split pins, the cap swallow-tail insignia and cockade also hand-embroidered in metallic thread. Cap piping in gold, gold cap cord. Interior with damaged white sweatband with white edge, white silk lining, the celluloid diamond with maker's mark “Erstklassig CW” (= Clemens Wagner company). Size approximately 58. Worn, with a few stains on the cap cover, the fabric edge with 2 damage spots, condition 2-.

The visor caps for Luftwaffe generals are considerably rarer than those of the Wehrmacht. The Luftwaffe had a total of only 688 generals.

Circa 1935/36. Aluminum construction with ventilation rivets on both sides. The original Luftwaffe blue-gray paint approximately 95% intact, the Luftwaffe eagle 1st pattern 100% intact, the national emblem approximately 65% intact. Complete with liner and chinstrap with snap fastener, size approximately 57 1/2. The liner has a small hole, condition 2.

Thin gray-blue summer cloth, piped all around with silver piping, complete with hand-embroidered cap eagle and cockade, hand-sewn. Interior with dark silk lining, size approximately 56. Moth damage, condition 2-.

Very fine example manufactured by Clemens Wagner, circa 1940. High elegant saddle form, detachable cap crown made of white waffle cloth. Complete with all insignia, the national eagle hand-embroidered in metal thread on white cloth backing, reverse with 3 split pins, cap wreath in hand-embroidered metal thread execution. Interior with light-colored sweatband marked "CW - Wirklich Stirn- u. Schläfendruckfrei D.R.P. u. D.R.G.M.," white silk lining, beneath the celluloid diamond bearing inscription "Verkaufsabteilung der Luftwaffe Berlin SW68 Puttkammerstr. 16-18 Erstklassig." Rear with paper size label size 58. The visor cap shows only light wear, the white cap crown still uncleaned and somewhat yellowed, otherwise condition 2.

Chamber piece circa 1940. Black beret made of felt cloth, with removable crown. The padded base of the beret manufactured in the typical style of the Wehrmacht. Black felt with 6 ventilation grommets made of hard rubber. Interior with light brown sweatband with black oilcloth edge and black oilcloth lining, center with sewn-in manufacturer’s label "G.A.Hoffmann, Berlin S.W 29..", rear of sweatband with size stamp "55". Interior of sweatband with acceptance stamp "B. II. 40". In the black oilcloth lining with white chamber stamp "1/ /Pz. R. III". Size 56. The beret crown is a special Luftwaffe manufacture and differs in construction from Wehrmacht pieces. The cover is made of black felt cloth (not spiral-knitted like the Wehrmacht), although also with the small "beret tail" on top. Front with Luftwaffe eagle over cockade, both insignia in Bevo-woven execution, machine-sewn in zigzag pattern. These woven insignia are only known for panzer berets; they do not exist on any other Luftwaffe headgear. The piece shows light wear, in untouched original condition, condition 2.

Extremely rare, no other example is known to us worldwide.

In the reference book by Schlicht/Angolia "Die Deutsche Wehrmacht Uniformierung und Ausrüstung 1933-1945 Band 3 Die Luftwaffe" the panzer beret is described on page 196: "The crews of the armored reconnaissance vehicles of the reconnaissance company received by directive of 24.4.1938 (BLB 38. Nr. 161) the black protective cap of the Army’s panzer troops...".
The meaning of the chamber stamp "1/ /Pz. R. III" is not entirely clear. The "1" most likely stands for the 1st Company, the "III" could stand for the battalion. We welcome your assistance in clarifying this.

This sole known example was originally purchased in 1973 by a collector directly from a US veteran at the military show in Greenbelt, Maryland, together with a field-gray Wehrmacht panzer beret of the assault artillery.