Hungarian M35/38 Helmet
Hungarian M35/38 steel helmet manufactured for export to Finland during the Second World War. Produced under contract in Hungary, approximately 75,000 helmets of this pattern were made for the Finnish armed forces. Although based on the Hungarian M35 design, the export model incorporated several modifications to meet Finnish requirements and was heavily influenced in appearance by the German M35 helmet.
The Finnish-contract helmets differed from those issued to the Royal Hungarian Army in several respects. They were finished in a distinctive shade of green and lacked the Hungarian Crown inspection stamps normally found on domestic examples. This helmet is marked with the manufacturer's code "DR", identifying it as one of the export-production pieces made specifically for Finland.
Original Finnish-contract helmets retaining their wartime liners are becoming increasingly scarce. In the years immediately following the war, many were refurbished for continued service, and their original liners were replaced with simpler and less expensive post-war versions. Consequently, untouched examples such as this are highly sought after by collectors of both Hungarian and Finnish military equipment.
Today, the Hungarian M35/38 export helmet represents a fascinating chapter in wartime industrial cooperation between Hungary and Finland. Its rarity, historical significance, and excellent craftsmanship make it one of the most desirable helmets produced by the Hungarian military industry during the Second World War.
