About 20 years ago, I had seen this helmet at an elderly collector's house. I had tried to obtain it, but this good man explained to me that he could not part with this object, it being a family memory. He then told me the story of this helmet. At the end of 1944, during the German debacle, in the small village of Hélécine in Belgium, a German parachutist has been shot dead by a farmer with a shotgun. This unfortunate soldier was trying to return to Germany by bicycle. He had 60 kilometers left to reach his country . After this tragic gesture, the father of the owner of the helmet who was not far from there cut the chin straps to pick up the helmet. He even had the good idea to take the pieces of chinstrap away (But not the long strap). In the sixties, the son inherited the helmet and sewn up the chin straps to complete the set.
I had explained to this gentleman that if one day he wanted to part with it, I was very interested. He replied that it would be up to his son to decide whether or not to sell it. From time to time I called him back, but nothing to do. Years have passed. I had lost hope. Until last Sunday, where I got a call from the Grand son. Her father had passed away last year and had left my contact details in his phone book. He asked me if I was still interested in this item he wanted to sell. He had seen the prices on the net and was amazed that it was worth so much money. I finaly bought the helmet.
About the helmet, it is in a well worn condition without rust on the exterior. It has been well preserved during these years. Chin straps have of course been sewn up.
Something unusual is that the markings are upside down. I already have seen that on some other original examples.
The left rear screw is probably a field replacement. There is no trace of paint on it and when you look inside the helmet, you can see that the four nuts are rusted and untouched and impossible to unscrew.
Lot number is 1531, aluminium band and early beige foam reinforcement.
I had explained to this gentleman that if one day he wanted to part with it, I was very interested. He replied that it would be up to his son to decide whether or not to sell it. From time to time I called him back, but nothing to do. Years have passed. I had lost hope. Until last Sunday, where I got a call from the Grand son. Her father had passed away last year and had left my contact details in his phone book. He asked me if I was still interested in this item he wanted to sell. He had seen the prices on the net and was amazed that it was worth so much money. I finaly bought the helmet.
About the helmet, it is in a well worn condition without rust on the exterior. It has been well preserved during these years. Chin straps have of course been sewn up.
Something unusual is that the markings are upside down. I already have seen that on some other original examples.
The left rear screw is probably a field replacement. There is no trace of paint on it and when you look inside the helmet, you can see that the four nuts are rusted and untouched and impossible to unscrew.
Lot number is 1531, aluminium band and early beige foam reinforcement.
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