Description:

LUFTWAFFE HELMET CAPTURED AND PAINTED BY A HEROIC BLACK SOLDIER
Well known Luftwaffe helmet captured, painted, and kept as a souvenir by a black American artillery sergeant and member of the heroic 333rd Field Artillery Group. The helmet, an M1935 made by F. W. Quist, was extensively decorated by the soldier. The top reads: "CAPTURED BY Sgt. St[r]ong 333 F.A.G.P. IN NORMANDIE July 44 BREST Sep 44 GERMANY Oct 44". The original Luftwaffe eagle and national colors decals appear to have been overpainted, and the names of several locales at which he was engaged have been painted about the back of the helmet: "St. MERE L'EGLISE PONT L'ABBE La HAY du PUITS COUTANCES RENNES St MALO BREST". Finally, the front of the Luftwaffe helmet captured, painted, and kept as a souvenir by a black American artillery sergeant and member of the heroic 333rd Field Artillery Group. The helmet, an M1935 made by F. W. Quist, was extensively decorated by the soldier. The top reads: "CAPTURED BY Sgt. St[r]ong 333 F.A.G.P. IN NORMANDIE July 44 BREST Sep 44 GERMANY Oct 44". The original Luftwaffe eagle and national colors decals appear to have been overpainted, and the names of several locales at which he was engaged have been painted about the back of the helmet: "St. MERE L'EGLISE PONT L'ABBE La HAY du PUITS COUTANCES RENNES St MALO BREST". Finally, the front of the helmet has been adorned with three shields with representations of the flags of the U.S., France, and England. The helmet lacks liner and chin strap, but the previous owner's name "Gerhardus" is painted at rear (in different color paint). Overall very good. The 333rd, an all-black battalion, landed in Normandy in July, 1944, and served in Normandy, Brittany, participated in the siege of Brest and battled across Northern France before arriving in the Ardennes sector. At the onset of the Battle of the Bulge they were eleven miles behind the front lines. Eleven men surrendered and were taken to a field where they were tortured, maimed, and shot on Dec. 17. Their remains were found by Allied soldiers two months later with their fingers cut off, legs broken, and at least one was shot while trying to bandage a comrade's wounds. The 333rd Field Artillery Battalion suffered more casualties during the Battle of the Bulge than any other artillery unit in the VIII Corps. Six officers (including the commanding officer) and 222 enlisted men became either casualties or prisoners of war.

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September 9, 2014 11:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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