This section is dedicated to the 1931 liner system of the WW-2 German Helmet. The liner system has several primary components. Outer band - inner band- leaf spings- rivets that hold the leather to the inner band- tie string.

The design is more sophisticated than any other of the era and quite good. the outer band secures the liner to the shell with three rivets. The outer band had a chinstrap bracket and ring on each side (more later). The inner band is attached to theo outer band by weaving the leaf springs through slots in the outer band. This allows the inner band, which is quite flexible to completely conform to the soldiers head. This moving band system also has a degree of shock absorption to protect the soldier. The leather is riveted to the the inner band by approximately a dozed simple aluminum split pins. A felt pad is sewn under the leather where it is in contact with the inner band. And finally the tie string in the top of the liner was not just any old string. I was very specific. it's nature was that of a tiny rope.

1931 liner in an M-40 helmet		back side of liner	Notice springs when inner band is removed from outer band

Identification marks on a 1931 liner

Marked by the Maker and Year made.	Size code: this one is for a 66 cm shell and a 59 cm head

Chinstrap Rings Early liners were made of Aluminum. About 1940 the change was made to zinc coated steel. The most apparent trait of an aluminum liner band in the forged aluminum chinstrap rings. After 1940 the chinstrap ring was bent steel. There are transitional examples of liners that are all aluminum and the chinstrap rings are aluminum, but bent not forged.
	upper is bent steel - Lower is cast aluminum

Norwegian re-issued German liners

Following WW-2 some countries reused German helmets. Norway was one of those countries. The Norwegians did three things to the liners before reissuing them. They remove the leather and sprayed a red colored leather treatment on the them. When they put the leather back on the band they did not reuse the aluminum split rivets, they used new brass colored pins with smaller rounded heads. They also replaced the sting with a shoes string.

Norwegian red leather treatment	Top: original German Bottom: Norwegian reissue

NOT original WW-2 German Liners

There are a variety of liners that get put into WW-2 German helmet shells. Most are liners made by the various countries that used the helmets following WW-2

	More examples coming soon
Denmark Reissue

Here is a liner commonly sold on e-bay and elsewhere. Many sellers exaggerate the connection between these liners and WW-2 liners. They have very little in common. These liners are for the 60's era border guard helmet and was used in the WW-2 German Style helmet as well as a US style helmet. The liner attaches with a single bolt in the top of the shell. There are no provisions for the three rivet mounting of WW-2.

People who sell these cut away the plastic assembly and offer only the leather and metal band so that it will look somewhat like the WW-2 liner, leaving it to the buyer to fashion a way of mounting it. The leather in these is not as deep. The shape of the band is uneven. The rear seam just over laps rather than sewn like WW-2, and there are many small holes for ventilation of the forehead area. Overall these are not a good option for completing a german helmet

Liner as commonly sold	Liner on it's plastic assembly

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