Wehrmacht (Heer) M40 'Afrika' Camouflage Combat Helmet (Stahlhelm M40). The stamped sheet steel construction M40 helmet shows a nice Afrika tan coloured camouflage paint, on top of the tan paint some green and brown camouflage is visible. A Heeres decal is visible beneath the camouflage overpaint. The paint shows normal wear and scratches caused by usage, see photos. All three liner retaining rivets are intact. The original steel liner ring is still present, the rest of the liner unfortunately is missing, see photos. The shell is marked with maker and size 'Q64'. 'Q' is indicating production by the 'F.W. Quist, G.m.b.H.' in Esslingen. The reverse interior neck guard apron has a stamped lot-number 'DN143'. A name 'Obgefr. Haas' and Fieldpost Number 'Fp.Nr.48671' are painted inside the helmet shell. The Fieldpost number belonged to the '3. Kompanie Panzer-Armee-Nachrichten-Regiment 5' which was part of the 5th Panzer Army and took part in the Africa campaign in Tunisia. The final battle of Army Group Africa began in Tunisia on 30 April 1943. On 12 May 1943, the remnants of the 5th Panzer Army in Africa surrendered and was officially disbanded on 30 June 1943. To protect the coastline of the Atlantic Wall in northern France and Belgium, the West Panzer Group was set up in northern France on 24 January 1944. After the Allies landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944, Panzer Group West fought under the command of Army Group B in the Battle of Caen. On 5 August 1944, it was renamed the 5th Panzer Army, followed by retreat battles from the Falaise pocket. In September, it was temporarily placed under Army Group G and fought against the 3rd US Army in the Lorraine area. On 16 October 1944, the AOK of the 5th Panzer Army was detached from the front. It handed over its command to the 1st and 19th Armies and moved by rail to the Krefeld area, where it was placed under Army Group B. In the Battle of the Bulge, which began in December, it fought in the central section of the front and was supposed to advance as far as Antwerp. After the Battle of the Bulge was canceled, the army retreated to the Western Wall. From the end of January to 10 February 1945, the army fought on the Urft and the Roer and then withdrew to the Rhine until 7 March 1945. After the Allies crossed the Rhine, the 5th Panzer Army was trapped in the Ruhr basin. On 17 Apri 1945, the army surrendered in the Ruhr basin. This helmet was left behind in Sittard (close to the Roer River) in the Netherlands and found in a private household there. Great untouched original helmet, cool piece of history!