Hermann Historica has carried out a highly successful auction of British, French, German and American militaria in La Gua, France.

The Munich based auctioneers were selling the collection of pensioner Maurice Bazin, which he had carefully brought together over a lifetime of living in Normandy.

The sale included some remarkable improvements on the listed estimates:

An American paratrooper's uniform from 101st Airborne Division, by all indications used at the Normandy landings came complete with knife in leather sheath, ammunition bag and leather boots.

It more than doubled its €8,500 valuation to be taken home for €20,500 ($30,586).

A decommissioned semi-automatic rifle FG 42-1 with original bayonet and bipod to steady the weapon and a replacement magazine, as used by German paratroopers was offered at €5,000, but easily tripled this to go under the hammer at €16,000 ($23,872).

But the most extraordinary sale was clearly a helmet belonging to a 101st Airborne paratrooper from unit 502nd PIR. The unit was famous for being right at the head of the forefront of the Normandy landings, and the helmet sparked a ferocious bidding competition.

Originally listed at a mere €3,500, the helmet, identified as being from the unit by the 'Ace of Hearts' image, rocketed all the way up to €46,000 ($68,621).

The auction was an improvement on the auctioneer's previous sale which raised $1.2m.

Those interested in WW2 memorabilia may be interested in our signed photograph of Winston Churchill, or letter written by General Patton