Members of the Spanish “Blue Division” wore standard German Army (Heer) helmets consisting mainly of the M1940 and M1942 models both with and without single Heer insignia.  It is well documented, from both surviving examples and wartime photographs, that some members of the Spanish Blue Division wore helmets with a national red and gold tricolored insignia depicting the colors of Spain.  These colors were worn on the right side of the helmet in conjunction with the German Army eagle decal which appeared on the left.  The Spanish national colors insignia was often applied with paint using both hand and stenciled designs.  However, some decals were also produced by Germany and supplied to Spanish volunteers during 1941.  It is not known when these were applied to helmets, however it would appear from wartime propaganda photographs that it was done sometime during July 1941 prior to the units swearing in ceremony before Hitler in Berlin.  Interestingly, not every helmet received the Spanish colors insignia.  As a result those helmets bearing both the Heer eagle decal and the national colors insignia of Spain are considered few in number¹ .  It would appear that application of the insignia was not regulated, and as a result may have evolved as an “unofficial” practice by some members of the Blue Division.

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