GERMAN WW2 M31 HELMET LINER BAND SIZE 68/60

This is an original WW2 German M31 helmet liner outer metal band for 68 shell . 68 shells are very hard to fine these days and expensive. 

• 68 n.A / 60

In 1934 a new liner system for German helmets was adopted, namely the model 1931 liner. The new liner took into account the size of a soldier’s head rather than only the helmet shell size. The M31 liner consists of two interlocking metal bands which are connected to each other with 5 steel leaf springs. The leather liner was attached to the inner metal band by small rivets made of aluminum and subsequently zinc-coated steel. The band is stamped with the liner head size and appropriate shell size. The leather part consists of 8 separate «tongues» which are perforated with 5 stamped holes to allow for ventilation. The liners for larger helmets (size 68-70) have 9 leather tongues.

For precise adjustment for a soldier’s head size, a woven drawstring is inserted through a 6th hole on the tip of each tongue. Between the leather and the inner band, a wool strip is attached to improve comfort and to avoid rubbing of the fragile leather against metal. Early liners were made mainly of aluminum parts changing to zinc-coated steel parts in 1940. The M31 liner consists of many parts and the 6 different liner producers that that existed obtained certain components (leather and rivets) from several other manufacturers.