GEN. ADOLF HEUSINGER''S ALUMINUM GENERAL''S HELMET, SURRENDERED BY HIM TO HIS CAPTORS

GEN. ADOLF HEUSINGER''S ALUMINUM GENERAL''S HELMET, SURRENDERED BY HIM TO HIS CAPTORS

HEUSINGER'S HELMET, SLAPPED OFF HIS HEAD BY AMERICAN G.I.S AT HIS SURRENDER An historic relic, the aluminum general's helmet surrendered by Gen. Adolf Heusigner to his Allied captors, who immediately ordered him to deface the swastika decal thereon. This rare M18 aluminum helmet was created only for parade or dress wear. A national shield decal is affixed to the right side, and a black and gold Wehrmacht eagle and swastika shield is affixed on the left side. There is a scratch to the top of the helmet and the visor has been creased and partially re-straightened. Within, the helmet bears a simple leather liner with nine fingers and the original tie, and two simple fixed bales are also fitted. The helmet is pencil marked with the size "55". This helmet was given directly by Heusinger to our consignor, the son of his second cousin who lived only a few miles away while Heusinger serving as Chairman of the NATO Military Committee in Washington. In his highly-detailed letter of provenance (included), our consignor relates how General Heusinger had this helmet with him at the time of his surrender to the first American forces he encountered when fleeing westward from Berlin. The first soldier they encountered knocked the helmet from Heusinger's head and either stepped upon it or kicked it, causing the damage now apparent. When Heusinger retrieved the helmet, the American saw the swastika emblem and ordered Heusinger to scratch that "f*cking thing off", which he wisely did. The helmet has remained in our consignor's possession since 1963 when, after telling him of the helmet's history, Heusinger gave the man (then 12 years old) this evocative relic. ADOLF HEUSINGER (1897�1982) was a general officer who served as Adolf Hitler's Chief of the General Staff of the Army. He assisted in the planning of operations in Poland, Denmark, Norway, and France and the Low Countries. Heusinger was also a conspirator in the July 20 bomb plot on Hitler's life and was in the conference room at the "Wolf's Lair" when the bomb planted by Col. Claus von Stauffenberg exploded. He awoke with Hitler's body atop his own and was credited with saving the Fuhrer's life. Although implicated by the Gestapo in the plot, Heusinger was saved by Hitler's intervention as Hitler was convinced thet Heusinger had saved his life.