Feldherrnhalle Helmet Decals

REPRODUCTIONS

The distinctions between the states of Reproduction and Restoration is a very thin line - discerned only by a very simple factor, that of motive. The problem for most collectors who encounter the reproduction and/or restored item is not simply one of recognizing a motive, but in being able to confidently identify the "good" from the "bad".

As most collectors are aware, transfer decals for German steel helmets have been around for years - and they have more or less been accepted at their face value, bona fide items of restoration. The original instigators behind the manufacture of the decals were film and theatrical companies. Naturally enough wellmeaning film companies wanting to recreate scenes from WVII have been increasingly enthusiastic in achieving technical perfection among their props - the intention being to enhance their film and TV productions - in principle, quite honorable.

So far, so good: The situation, however, becomes somewhat more complex.

Whilst the operation of putting new Army decals on helmets where the old Army ones had worn off (or Luftwaffe ones where the Luftwaffe ones had been) can clearly be recognised as restoration, the action of putting SS decals on an Army helmet alters the situation.-It becomes more properly a case of Reproduction or embellishment, than it does "restoring". All this, of course, is just another headache for the collector who continues to be bemused and confused by it all.

Just to give the collector a bit of an edge against the situation in which he increasingly finds himself, "Der GAULEITER" presents a guide to instant recognition of a particularly troublesome decal - the SA Feldherrnhalle decal. The troublesome part about it is that most collecotrs have never seen an original which they may compare against - and that is what makes it easy for the reproduction to move about undetected.

Firstly a short note about the originals:

Special helmet insignia for the SA Standarte Feldherrnhalle was apparently authorised in 1936, when the Standarte was officially consecrated. In principle the Feldherrnhalle was supposed to undertake special guard and protection duties for high officials of the Party and the SA that were not already being undertaken by the SS. In fact sometime before the official establishment of the Feldherrnhalle special SA elite guard units were in existence, and subsequently they had borne their own special insignia. The Feldherrnhalle had taken its name from the monument that stands in Munich, and which had been the scene of the famed illfated putsch of 1923. In commemoration of this the helmet decal as introduced in 1936 featuring a design this monument in silver on a dark magenta field, and this was featured on the left side of the helmet. On the right side the shield shaped decal featured a swastika on a silver field.

IDENTIFYING THE REPRODUCTION Generally speaking there is no hard and fast rule for identifying reproduction decals - especially when the printed images are copied from originals instead of artwork replicas, and when the reproduction technique involved uses the same matt base inks instead of the more commonly encountered gloss finish as featured on many of the Belgian copies. With the Feldherrnhalle pattern, however, the manufacturer was thoughtful enough to incorporate a specific design error, and this makes it impossible to completely mistake the reproduction for the original.

Left side Feldherrnhalle shield: The mistake on this is that the color of the base field (dark magenta) is too dark in color, and the detail to the lion statues at the sides of the steps, incorrect shaping to the archwawys and paneling of the roof line.

Right side shield: This features a most clearly recognisable flaw, in the coloring, and which can not be mistaken. The reproduction displays a black swastika with black and white edging on a white field within a pink/maroon circle in a silver shield; as opposed to the correct style of a black swastika with white edging in a dark grey field within a pink/maroon circle in a silver shield.

The color of the steel helmet (M1936 pattern) was a chocolate brown, except for those personnel who subsequently wore the normal Army grey/green helmet without decal. but with the distinctive Feldherrnhalle cuff title and shoulder strap insignia.

Editor's note: Mr. Stephens is the author of REPRODUCTION-RECOGNITION and HITLER YOUTH-History, Organization, Uniforms and Insignia. DG wishes to express our thanks to him for generously providing this information to our readers.

Frederick J. Stevens: "REPRODUCTIONS: THE FELDHERRNHALLE HElMET DECALS", 1977, "Der Gauleiter