Original GERMAN WWII HELMET M40, E.F.66 used in Bulgaria

This is an original German M40 Combat helmet . It was made in Germany and imported in Bulgaria so Bulgarian army, German ally during WWII, used it on the battlefields. Shell with rolled edge. Rear stamped with original German factory numbers 166 and E.F.66 . Liner is a bit torn but can be easily restored. Please see the pictures provided. Liner size - 57.

Chinstraps are missing.

The helmet was found in Bulgarian military stock for iron rations.
Helmet was repainted probably by the end of the WWII or in 50's- it comes with very well preserved Bulgarian dark green paint. The liner and the chinstraps were changed later , in the early communist period.
During the WWI and the 1st part of WWII Bulgaria is ally of Germany . For this reason our military forces have used German military equipment in the WWI and WWII. Till the end of the WWII Bulgaria became ally of USSR and a lot of armament and equipment have stayed here and used again. After 9.IX 1944 the Communist regime was established and German helmets were repainted for two reasons:
1. To hide the German military decals and paint
2. To prepare it for new use.
After the leather liner and chinstraps were changed with new helmets were put into a deep military stock as iron ration. Our army has never used them in battle. For this reason in the moment the helmets are in excellent condition.

SCARCE ITEM keeping the spirit of the two most important historical events of 20th century - the WWII and communist regime.