The History and Evolution of World War I & II Helmets: Part I

Known as a "transitional period" in military history, World War II sees the convergence between Great War -era attempts and experimentation with modern technology and modern examples of a new type of combat, characterized by the individual soldier rather than the military unit.

Regarding WW II, it is important to realize that because the war was fought around the world, variations in uniforms and equipment exist and are simply unpredictable.

During the first year of WWI, none of the combatants offered steel helmets to their troops. The soldiers of most nations went into battle wearing simple cloth caps that offered virtually no protection from modern weapons. German troops were wearing the traditional leather Pickelhaube, also of little protective value. As the war entered the trench warfare phase, the number of casualties on all sides suffering from severe head wounds increased dramatically. The French were the first to see a real need for more effective protection, and began to issue Adrian Helmets, bowl-shaped steel "skullcaps" worn under the cloth caps, to their troops. It replaced the traditional French kepi and was later adopted by both the Belgian and Italian armies. The British followed with the introduction of the Brodie helmet, which was also worn by U.S. forces, and the Germans with the Stahlhelm.

This post is 1 of a 4 part series. Please read on and enjoy. Also, if you are interested in more information on WWI and WWII Collectible weapons, uniforms and accessories, visit The Historical Weapon Store for a wide variety of quality replicas.