East German M56/66 Helmet

The M56 helmet was adopted by the East German army in 1957. However the first seen prototype was a replacement helmet for the Wehrmacht during WW2. It was tested as early as 1944 and offered better protection and easier to produce. It also lent itself for better concealment. However the"B/II" ( as it was known) was rejected by Hitler on the grounds that the exist9ing M35,M40 and M42, where a symbol of the German struggle. This is the 2nd pattern M56/66 used by the NVA ( Nationale Volksarmee ). The 1st pattern M56, had a wartime style M31 liner which was attached by three rivets, 2nd pattern was a M56 which had a retro fitted new style liner, with the shell retaining the three rivets, designated as the M56/66 and the third pattern with the new style liner and no visible rivets designated the M56/76. This example has a 1958 dated shell and is in excellent condition.

Code: 69001