Revised 10/14/2025
General Information: From the 1920s up to the beginning of World War Two, the Latvian army used First World War German model helmets. These helmets are extremely rare and little information from reference books or collector forums is available regarding this type. What follows is information that I have gleaned from two forum discussion threads and my own observations.[1] [2] There seem to be three basic versions of the Latvian German model helmets, each possibly representing different sources:
- Austro-Hungarian made Model 1917s with chinstrap lugs located higher up compared to German-made helmets. These were originally painted brown may retain brown paint in the dome. I have seen one specimen like this. In addition Austro-Hungarian variant German model helmet shells (with chinstrap lugs higher than the German made ones) may have been supplied to the Latvian military by the Austrians or Czechoslovakians. This is a guess on my part based on one example that I have seen that was matt green throughout like a Czechoslovakian vz.20 and lacked traces of underlaying brown paint.
- German Model 1916/17/18s. These likely would have been left behind by Imperial German forces that withdrew after World War One.
- Unfinished helmet shells manufactured post-World War One, possibly from the Berndorfer factory in Austria, and equipped in Lativa with locally made brass chinstrap M91 type lugs, and small diameter copper, or brass split pins for attachment of the liner.[3]
Regardless of underlying specific model or source, Latvian army helmet shared common characteristics:
- Green paint that was more solidly green than the German feldgrau.
- Liner that was somewhat like the French Model 1915 second pattern, but with better quality leather and seven liner tongues. The liners have Latvian army inspection stamps.
- Buckle and clasp chinstraps with a unique brass rivet device that joined two sections of the long end of the strap (see period photo above). The purpose of this may have been to enable quick release.
After the Soviet occupation of the Baltics, some of the German First World War model helmets used by Baltic countries, likely including possibly Latvia, were modified by painting a red star on the front of the helmets.
Displayed Example: I acquired this helmet in a trade with a collector friend from Canada. According to his records, he got this from Riga. It lacks the peculiar Latvian chinstrap with the brass rivet device but is otherwise complete. There are several unusual features of this piece. The ventilation lugs are not the conventional type and appear to have been added after the helmet was painted. They are painted a different shade of green than the rest of the helmet. In addition the step on the ventilation lug is thinner that those found on German and Austro-Hungarian made German model size 64 helmets. These features suggest that the ventilation lugs were added post-World War One.
The liner band is like the ones found on the Austro-Hungarian Berndorfer Model 1917 (domestic pattern) and 1918 (German style). These had relatively large holes in the middle of the band above smaller holes at the edge. The split pins are brass or copper and have a reddish hue where the raw metal is exposed. The holes to accommodate the split pins appear to be too small for typical German or Austro-Hungarian helmets but are approximately the same as found on the Austro-Hungarian German style helmets made by the Berndorfer company (the “Hungarian” model).
The liner is the type used by Latvian army. The leather band is made of two pieces and there are seven tabs sewn into the band. It has the type of inspection stamps seen on other Latvian helmets. The drawstring is thin cloth ribbon with a woven herringbone pattern as found on Austro-Hungarian helmets. There are no visible size or manufacturer code markings nor lot numbers. The brass chinstrap hardware is still attached to the chinstrap lugs. These two hardware pieces are slightly mismatched.
The Berndorfer type metal liner band and Berndorfer-like small holes for the split pins suggest that this might be an Austrian-made piece, despite the German M91 chinstrap lugs. The lack of size or manufacturer markings and absence of evidence of repainting (i.e., no brown or feldgrau paint showing under the green paint) suggest to me that this might be part of a special consignment manufactured for the Latvian army. Of course, this is just speculation on my part.
Collector Notes: The Latvian pre-war army was small. Latvian soldiers fighting with the Soviets or the Germans were equipped with Soviet SSh 39/40s or German M40/42s. As mentioned above, during a transitional period after the Soviet occupation, some of the German WWI style helmets used in by the Baltic republics had red stars painted on them. Some Latvian battlefield pick-ups from 1941 were reportedly reissued to Estonian self-defense forces. These Estonian reissues were mostly refurbished with locally made liners and chinstraps.[4] These and other factors make the Latvian German model helmets in their original configuration very hard to find and they surface rarely on collector markets.
* Helmet12781 (aka). “Latvian M17.” German Helmet Walhalla. March 26, 2015. https://www.ghw2.com/topic/47187-latvian-m17/#comment-556944.Accessed January 16, 2023.
[1] Dimas (aka). “Latvian M16.” War Relics Forum. October 12, 2009. https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/steel-helmets/latvian-m-16-helmet-11456/. Accessed October 14, 2025.
[2] Helmet12781 (aka). “Latvian M17.” German Helmet Walhalla. March 26, 2015. https://www.ghw2.com/topic/47187-latvian-m17/#comment-556944.Accessed January 16, 2023.
[3] This is speculation on my part based on forensic analysis of the helmet from my collection.
[4] Dimas (aka). “Latvian M16.” War Relics Forum. Post #5. October 23, 2009. https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/steel-helmets/latvian-m-16-helmet-11456/. Accessed October 14, 2025.ttps://www.warrelics.eu/forum/steel-helmets/latvian-m-16-helmet-11456/. Accessed January 16, 2023.
Steel Helmets of the World Wars 