Rare German WW2 Double Decal SS Transitional Helmet, M16/M18 Shell, M31 Liner & Chinstrap

This extraordinary WWII German Double Decal SS RZM Transitional Helmet is a rare early example utilizing an older M16 or M18 style shell refurbished for Third Reich service with an updated M31 liner system and period-applied decals. The left side displays the SS runes shield, while the right side retains the Party shield with national colors around a central swastika, a decal configuration associated with early SS helmet use before later standardization. The decals show significant age, wear, and patina consistent with the shell’s finish and period field use. The interior shows a legible factory mark, possibly F.W.T. or F.Z. within a circle, while the M31 liner remains present with heavy dryness, cracking, and deterioration from age. The original chinstrap is also present, though heavily worn.

Transitional helmets occupy a particularly important place in German headgear collecting, bridging the First World War shell forms with the later M35 combat helmet system. These helmets were refurbished and reissued during the early Third Reich period, when existing stocks of older shells were adapted for renewed service. The reference to RZM relates to the Reichszeugmeisterei, the National Quartermaster’s Office, which regulated early SS uniforms and equipment before later SS supply structures became more distinct. Double decal SS transitional helmets are among the most sought-after and closely studied categories of early WWII German militaria.

With its early shell, double decal configuration, aged liner, worn chinstrap, and untouched appearance, this helmet represents a significant and visually powerful artifact for the advanced collector. Its rarity, condition, and connection to early SS headgear development make it a museum-level example within the field of WWII military collectibles.

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