General Information: Both the Republicans and Nationalists used a large number of French Model 1915 helmets. Model 1915 helmets used by the Republicans would have most likely been sourced from France while those used by Nationalists we may presume would have generally come from Italy and were surplus French export helmets from the First World War. The Spanish-used M15s are almost always found with Spanish-made replacement liners. Surviving examples typically are hand painted green or brown with a thick paint that tends to flake off over time. If badge holes were present in the original helmets, these holes were usually soldered over.
Displayed Example: I bought this helmet on eBay in 2023. It filled a gap in my Spanish Civil War collection, but the main thing that drew me to this piece was the writing in the liner. It has two names: Antonio Cabello and Teniente (lieutenant) Alvarez. In addition, it has the initials “F.D.R.” and “A.” The helmets used by Republicans sometimes have militia markings. I think that the “F.D.R.” initials likely refer to the militia column led by lieutenant colonel Francisco del Rosal y Rico. The unit was referred to as “Columna del Rosal,” but may have used, for identification, the initials F.D.R. The Columna del Rosal was an element of the Confederación Nacional del Trabajo (CNT). The CNT was the largest labor union in Spain at the time and it organized militia units to fight the fascists.
This example has a typical Spanish replacement liner and chinstrap. The replacement liner is attached via six steel brackets to the shell. These brackets, which are absent on the factory original M15s, are a quick visual indicator that a helmet is a relic of the Spanish Civil War.
Collector Notes: Spanish Civil War Helmets in general, and the Spanish-used French M15s in particular, can be acquired for prices at the lower end of the value spectrum. They tend to be in rough condition and many were reissued after the war with brackets for attaching Falangista eagle badges. It can be a challenge to find complete examples in good condition and without post-war frontal brackets.
* Wills, Mathew.”The International Brigades: Foreigners fighting for Ukraine may call to mind the International Brigades that fought in defense of the Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War.” JSTOR Daily. April 20, 2022. https://daily.jstor.org/the-international-brigades/. Accessed 1/6/2024
Steel Helmets of the World Wars 