Description:

An excellent relic from the D-Day invasion, an excavated German helmet from the town of Carentan in Normandy, scene of a week-long engagement between the 101st Airborne Division and the German Wehrmacht, as the American paratroopers struggled to reinforce the Utah and Omaha Beachheads and establish a defensive line against German counterattacks. The helmet, chipped and oxidized throughout from years of burial, appears to be a M42 model based on the outward flaring rim and the punched vent hole on each side. The left side bears a single Wehrmacht decal, surprisingly mostly complete. The helmet also has three interior pins with some metal fragments from the liner, all fused to the interior shell. In relic condition. Sold with a scanned note of provenance from Xavier Derule, originally written in French on Feb. 2, 1983, who found this helmet and other Normandy relics near the town of Carentan during clearance works. Heavy losses and a lack of ammunition forced the German forces to withdraw from the town on June 12th, 1944.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, COD (cash on delivery), Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

May 22, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000