Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is an amazing bring back trench art helmet. The helmet itself is a M42 (model 1942). The shell is stamped NS66. NS is the maker code for the Vereinigte Deutsche Nikelwerke factory in the Germany city of Schwerte. Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 60cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 1/2. Size 66 shells are much harder to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.
The unique aspect of this helmet is that the soldier then painted the following on the helmet:
Germany, French Morocco, Sicily, Luxembourg, Tunisia, Scotland, Belgium, France, England, Algeria
He also painted a Luftwaffe eagle over the left ear. The interior of the shell still retains a clear dome stamp along with the original split pins.
The original WWII liner is a replacement that was made at some point in the past few months. Inside of the original size 58 liner has ink writing that reads in part JOHANN 9.10.44.
Overall a really nice condition helmet with a USGI trench art design to remember his journey through WWII.
