M38 Paratrooper Helmet with Bright Green Camo – Fallschirmjäger 6th Regiment

An intriguing M38 paratrooper helmet featuring a striking bright green camouflage paint applied over the original field grey factory finish. The shell is marked with an ET68 maker's stamp, indicating both the manufacturer and the helmet’s size, and comes with a size 58 liner.

This helmet carries with it a significant and personal history. According to the consignor, it was discovered by his great-uncle on August 11, 1944, beside a burning German vehicle. The scene was grim, with the soldiers inside already deceased. At the time, his great-uncle, aged 17, had taken refuge with his family in their farmhouse on the N12 near Le Mêle-sur-Sarthe, attempting to escape the nearby bombing. The helmet was found approximately 2,000 meters from the farm, close to the Saint Paul bridge, south of Mesnil Brout.

Subsequent research by the consignor has shed light on the circumstances surrounding this discovery. It appears that Task Force Boyer of the 5th US Armored Division had set up a roadblock at the Saint Paul bridge to temporarily halt German forces, who were entrenched in the Perseigne forest pocket and attempting to retreat northward. It was during this encounter that the German vehicles, including the one near which the helmet was found, were destroyed. The helmet likely belonged to a soldier from the 6th Fallschirmjäger Regiment, which had been tasked with assisting the 9th Panzer Division in defending Mamers during the Battle of Normandy.

Helmet Details:

• M38 shell: Marked with ET68 for size and maker.
• Camouflage Paint: Bright green camo applied over the field grey factory paint, with some of the original color visible beneath.
• Eagle Decal: Partially visible, where not obscured by the camo paint.
• Inner Shell: Features white and green paint spots. The original rivets, still in place, are also covered in the same camouflage but show signs of having been opened.
• Liner: Soft leather, size 58, in slightly worn condition, with some staining. Stamped with "Kopfweite: Gr. 58" and "Stahlhelm: Gr. 68." Manufacturer stamps include "Baumuster: Heisler Berlin C2" and "Hersteller: F.W. Müller jr."
• Chin Straps: First pattern chin straps, showing signs of aging with some cracks, breaks, and rust on the metal fittings.

This helmet not only represents a rare and iconic piece of military history but also tells a personal story of survival and wartime discovery in one of the most dramatic periods of the Second World War.