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M1935 Double Decal SS-VT (Waffen-SS): Pre-1939 issued Helmets

The origins of the infamous Waffen-SS began on 24 September 1934 when a special SS military group was formed with men who had previously trained in units known as SS Special Detachments (SS-Sonderkommandos). The unit was officially designated SS-Special Purpose Troops (SS-Verfügungstruppe) and was described as neither police nor Armed Forces but military trained men at the disposal of the Führer in war and peace. Official announcement of the existence of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (known as SS-VT) was not declared until 16 March 1935. In July of 1940 the SS-VT was officially renamed the "Waffen-SS" and hence was known under this designation until May 1945.

The first steel helmets used by the SS-VT consisted of a variety of pre-war transitional types converted to field use by the application of field green paint and double decals. Because the SS-VT was not an official formation of the German Wehrmacht (Armed Services), they were not supplied with new M1935 model helmets in any large numbers prior to 1939. However, a limited number of original photographs do show members of the SS-VT wearing M1935 pattern helmets with double insignia of the pattern manufactured by the firm of C.A. Pocher. This fact has been born out by the existence of a handful of authentic model M1935 helmets dated and marked by the firm of Eisenhüttenwerke in Thale. This was the first firm to be contracted to provide M1935 helmets en mass to the Wehrmacht and it played a principle role in crafting the new helmet pattern.

M1935 model helmets manufactured by the Thale firm (marked ET on the inside skirt) were issued to the SS-VT prior to 1939. These examples are identified by factory finished smooth field green paint with all components generally dated between 1937 and 1938. It is not uncommon to also find German Army double decal helmets converted to SS-VT use by the placement of C.A. Pocher pattern decals layered on top of the army insignia. It has also been observed that a majority of early issued M1935 helmets bear slightly lighter shades of field green paint compared to later examples, however there exists no clear evidence of this fact other than simple observation.

Some modern collectors have come to associate ET marked helmets as "must having" the so called "second pattern" runic decal in order to be authentic. However, well documented evidence indicates that some ET marked M1935 helmets were issued to SS-VT troops with C.A. Pocher pattern decals. This took place prior to the advent of large scale factory production of ET helmets bearing the expected "second pattern" ET decal. Two such examples are shown below. It has also been suggested that all SS-VT M1935 helmets of authentic origin issued prior to 1937 were manufactured without decals and supplied directly to SS units. In theory, this notion suggests that C.A. Pocher decals were applied at the supply or unit level in order to conform to regulations. This may be true in some cases, although examples (such as the helmet shown at bottom right) can often defy this notion as they often appear to have factory applied insignia with the factory applied varnish sprayed over the decals. It is interesting to note that both helmets shown below bear lot numbers in the same series only a few numbers apart from one another.

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M1935 Example with Unlacquered Insignia 1937 Dated Components	M1935 Example with Lacquered Insignia 1938/1939 Dated Components

German-Helmets.com - The Online Reference Guide to World War II German Helmets 1933-1945