(continued)
In the Second World War, a Stahlhelm variant without the visor and rim was issued to paratrooper units.
The Stahlhelm with its distinctive "coal scuttle" shape was an excellent symbol for military imagery. It was a common element of military propaganda on both sides, just like the Pickelhaube before. After WWII, West Germany abandoned the distinctive Stahlhelm, which had become a symbol of German military aggression, using a variant of the more harmless-looking US Army "GI Pot" helmet instead. After the war, the West German police units kept the Stahlhelm in their inventories, though it was seldom worn, and the German Paratroopers variant was used for some time by the German Federal Police. German firefighters today still use Stahlhelm-shaped helmets in a fluorescent color. The Chilean Army still uses the Stahlhelm design for ceremonial purposes.
This is the final post of a 4 part series. I hope that you enjoyed the read.
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 war time replicas.
Showing posts with label pickelhaube helmet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pickelhaube helmet. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
The History and Evolution of World War I & II Helmets: Part III
(continued)
The Adrian helmet was a military helmet issued to the French Army during WWI. It was the first standard helmet issued to the French Army. Introduced in 1915, it served as a basic helmet of many armies well into 1930s. Initially issued to infantry, its modified versions were also issued to cavalry and tank crews. Its subsequent version, the M26, was adopted later and used during WWII.
The Brodie helmet was a steel helmet designed and patented in 1915 by John L. Brodie. The helmet had a shallow circular crown with a wide brim around the edge, a leather liner and a leather chinstrap. The helmet's "soup bowl" shape was originally designed to protect the wearer's head and shoulders from falling fragments. The shallow bowl design allowed the use of relatively thick steel that could be formed in a single pressing while maintaining the helmet's thickness. Although this made it more resistant to projectiles, the design offered less protection to the lower part of the head and neck than other designs. The steel helmet was known to the troops as a "tin hat" or for the officers a "battle bowler".
The M1 steel helmet was used by the US military for over 40 years. It was introduced officially during the WWII to replace the Brodie helmet but saw little action until 1942.
The M1 helmet is actually two helmets. The shell, which is sometimes referred to as the "steel pot", and the liner, which is made of various non-metal material, depending upon when it was made. The "steel pot" or shell cannot be worn by the soldier by itself. The liner can be worn by itself, or fit inside the shell and contains the suspension that ensures the helmet fits comfortably to the wearer's head. Worn alone, the liner can look very much like a full helmet. The liner is much lighter in weight and more flexible than the outer steel shell. The design of the M1 led to some novel uses. When the pot was separated from the liner it became a cooking pot, washbasin, bucket, shovel or a seat.
This post is 3 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 war time replicas.
The Adrian helmet was a military helmet issued to the French Army during WWI. It was the first standard helmet issued to the French Army. Introduced in 1915, it served as a basic helmet of many armies well into 1930s. Initially issued to infantry, its modified versions were also issued to cavalry and tank crews. Its subsequent version, the M26, was adopted later and used during WWII.
The Brodie helmet was a steel helmet designed and patented in 1915 by John L. Brodie. The helmet had a shallow circular crown with a wide brim around the edge, a leather liner and a leather chinstrap. The helmet's "soup bowl" shape was originally designed to protect the wearer's head and shoulders from falling fragments. The shallow bowl design allowed the use of relatively thick steel that could be formed in a single pressing while maintaining the helmet's thickness. Although this made it more resistant to projectiles, the design offered less protection to the lower part of the head and neck than other designs. The steel helmet was known to the troops as a "tin hat" or for the officers a "battle bowler".
The M1 steel helmet was used by the US military for over 40 years. It was introduced officially during the WWII to replace the Brodie helmet but saw little action until 1942.
The M1 helmet is actually two helmets. The shell, which is sometimes referred to as the "steel pot", and the liner, which is made of various non-metal material, depending upon when it was made. The "steel pot" or shell cannot be worn by the soldier by itself. The liner can be worn by itself, or fit inside the shell and contains the suspension that ensures the helmet fits comfortably to the wearer's head. Worn alone, the liner can look very much like a full helmet. The liner is much lighter in weight and more flexible than the outer steel shell. The design of the M1 led to some novel uses. When the pot was separated from the liner it became a cooking pot, washbasin, bucket, shovel or a seat.
This post is 3 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 war time replicas.
The History and Evolution of World War I & II Helmets: Part II
(continued)
The Pickelhaube was a spiked helmet worn in the 19th and 20th century by German military. The early Russian models had used the spike as a holder for a horsehair plume, but German models were unornamented from the start.
The basic Pickelhaube was made of hardened leather, given a glossy-black finish, and reinforced with metal trim that included a metal spike at the crown. Early versions had a high crown, but the height gradually was reduced and the helmet became more fitted in form. Some versions were worn by German artillery units employed a ball-shaped finial rather than the pointed spike. The Russian version initially had a horsehair plume fitted to the end of the spike, but this was later discarded in some units. The Russian spike was topped with a small ball, with the spike emerging from it.
Aside from the spike finial, perhaps the most recognizable feature of the Pickelhaube was the ornamental front plate, which denoted the regiment's province or state. The most common plate design consisted of a large, spread-winged eagle, the emblem used by Prussia.
This post is 2 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.
The Pickelhaube was a spiked helmet worn in the 19th and 20th century by German military. The early Russian models had used the spike as a holder for a horsehair plume, but German models were unornamented from the start.
The basic Pickelhaube was made of hardened leather, given a glossy-black finish, and reinforced with metal trim that included a metal spike at the crown. Early versions had a high crown, but the height gradually was reduced and the helmet became more fitted in form. Some versions were worn by German artillery units employed a ball-shaped finial rather than the pointed spike. The Russian version initially had a horsehair plume fitted to the end of the spike, but this was later discarded in some units. The Russian spike was topped with a small ball, with the spike emerging from it.
Aside from the spike finial, perhaps the most recognizable feature of the Pickelhaube was the ornamental front plate, which denoted the regiment's province or state. The most common plate design consisted of a large, spread-winged eagle, the emblem used by Prussia.
This post is 2 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.
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.
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.
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