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One of
the more controversial issues among the collecting community is the
subject of subdued (camouflaged) Luftwaffe helmet decals. From
verifiable accounts, it appears that in late 1944 or 1945 the Luftwaffe
experimented with subdued helmet decals for app-lication on all combat
helmets including those used by paratroopers (Fallschirmjäger).
Decals were printed face up with several on a single sheet of transfer
paper. The decals were intended to be applied using water as the
transfer medium. Several helmets have been observed over the years
exhibiting these subdued decals. The color of the green can vary
from light to very dark. In addition, a blue subdued decal has
also been observed. It is not known whether or not the blue
version is in fact an original decal or a postwar produced item.
It has been established over the years that one early collector obtained
large quantities of these original subdued decals to which he applied
many to standard, no decal Luftwaffe helmets. As a result, this
action has complicated the ability to accurately determine if any of
these decals were actually wartime applied. Although it is a
historical fact that these decals were printed during the war, this too
has been complicated by the fact that several reproduction versions of
the decal have been manufactured and sold over the years. As a
result, collectors should be careful about purchasing helmets with
subdued decals.
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