We get some remarkable battlefield finds from the Damyansk Pocket region, site of the infamous Waffen SS Totenkopf Division.
This is a German M40 pattern Stalhelm recovered from the Demyansk region in Russia. This battle site was part of the Soviet Red Army offensive against German forces in 1942 to encircle and crush the Demyansk pocket.
The Demyansk Pocket (Kessel) was the name given to the pocket of German troops encircled by the Red Army south of Leningrad. The infamous Waffen SS Totenkopf Division was instrumental in the bitter defence of the pocket, but was all but wiped out by the Red Army in bitter fighting.
The decal on the right side of the helmet was that used by the Waffen SS in WW2 of the SS Runes on a shield.
The helmet retains some hand-painted cammoflauge, the SS rune decal and even some leather (which some soils serve to preserve). The battle damage to the helmet speaks to to the savagery of the battle.
In the bitter and often close quarter fighting of that campaign many battlefield artefacts such as this accumulated. They were lost or abandoned in bunkers, trenchlines, rubble piles or covered by earth from shellfire. They are found in various states of preservation depending upon the type of soil or rubble that they have been contained within.
M40 pattern helmets were manufactured between 1940 until mid 1942. This one was lost on the battlefield in the Demyansk pocket area between February and April 1942.
We are thrilled to get examples like this for customers that have a story to tell and also retain great features like this helmet does.
Comments