Special Note: As with the Latvian helmet that I have posted, it was a dilemma deciding whether to put this helmet in the WWII Axis or the WWII Allied sections. Lithuanian history during this period is complex. In truth, it belongs in neither section and there should be separate category for helmets from the BalticContinue reading “Lithuanian M16/17*”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
French Air Force M15/24
General Information: Strictly speaking, this is not a First World War helmet. The helmet may have been used during the war, but the elegant air force badge was not issued until 1923 and was officially adopted in 1924.[1] The same badge was used on Model 1926 and Model 1937 helmets. On the official, statutory versionContinue reading “French Air Force M15/24”
French M15 North African
General Information: The soldiers who wore these helmets were part of the French 19th Army Corps, referred to as the Army of Africa. Its headquarters was in Algiers. The people serving in this army came mostly from French colonies of Algeria, Tunesia, and Morocco. These troops included zouaves, light infantry famous for their colorful uniforms,Continue reading “French M15 North African”
Japanese M41 Paratrooper*
General Information: The Imperial Japanese Army fielded a small number of airborne units during the Second World War. At the end of 1944 these units were consolidated to form the First Raiding Group (Dai 1 Teishin Shudan) which had a strength of approximately 12,000 men.[1] IJA paratroopers were equipped with the Model 1941 helmet. ThereContinue reading “Japanese M41 Paratrooper*”
Prussian M95
New Zealand MKII
General Information: The first soldiers who embarked from New Zealand during the Second World War arrived without helmets. They were supplied with British MKIIs and, in some cases, South African-made MKIIs. The New Zealand armed forces ordered helmets from Britain, but because of shortages, a decision was made to import 40,000 helmet shells from Australia.Continue reading “New Zealand MKII”
Greek M34/39
General Information: Contrary to popular belief in the collector community, the Greek Model 1934/39 helmet was produced entirely in Greece. The myth that evolved about this helmet was that the shells were produced in Italy under contract and sold to the Greeks prior to the outbreak of hostilities between the two countries. According to theContinue reading “Greek M34/39”
French Export M26
General Information: The French produced an export version of the Model 1926 helmet that was used by Republican forces during the Spanish Civil War. The was nearly identical in appearance to the domestic version but for the lack of holes in the front for a badge. The export M26s were made of mild, magnetic steel,Continue reading “French Export M26”
Czechoslovakian vz.32
General Information: The vz.32 was the main helmet used by Czechoslovakian armed forces up to the period just before the beginning of the Second World War. After the German occupation of the Czech portion of Czechoslovakia in March of 1939 and the dissolution of its army, the weapons and materiel of the Czechoslovakian army, includingContinue reading “Czechoslovakian vz.32”
Japanese IJN Type 90*
General Information: The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) had procurement lines that were different from those used by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). Both armed service branches used the Type 90 steel helmets, but there are differences in how their respective helmets were configured. The most prominent difference is that the IJN helmets had metal badgesContinue reading “Japanese IJN Type 90*”
Steel Helmets of the World Wars 