A rare example of the very first helmet issued to members of the SS-Verfügungstruppe (SS-VT), a World War 1-era Austrian M1917 combat helmet, painted black overall and featuring the hand-painted insignia of the SS-VT, a mobile swastika on the left-hand side, and the ‘sig’ runes of the SS within a circle on the right, both in white paint. The interior is fitted with a brown chin strap of imitation pigskin attached with Austrian-style strap lugs, and with a three-flap liner of light-colored pigskin attached to a steel band secured with three domed split-pins. The interior skirt of the helmet is painted black, while the dome inside the liner retains the original field-grey finish. The crown of the helmet is stamped ‘2’ on the exterior; no other stamps are present. The helmet shows an approx. 1 in. dia. dent at front center, with expected wear, scratches and chips overall, otherwise in very good condition. The SS-VT was formed in 1934 as the combat troops of the NSDAP, becoming the nucleus of the Waffen-SS.