WWII Allied – Steel Helmets of the World Wars

Soviet SSh-40*

updated 12/18/2025 General Information: The SSh-40[1] was the most widely used helmet in the history of the Red Army and was the basic helmet of the Soviet soldier in the Second World War. It was an improvement over the previous model, the SSh-39. Externally the helmets were nearly identical, but the SSh-40 had a linerContinue reading “Soviet SSh-40*”

South African MKII

$290

US M-2 Paratrooper*

General Description: The standard M-1 helmet used by the US army during the Second World War was not appropriate for airborne troops because the steel shells had a tendency to separate from the detachable liners during jumps. The solution was to create a modified version of the M-1 for use by paratroopers. The new model,Continue reading “US M-2 Paratrooper*”

US M-1 Swivel Bale*

General Information: Starting in October 1943 the M-1 helmets were equipped with flexible chinstrap loops. This was to address the tendency of the fixed chinstrap loops to break. As with the earlier M-1s web chinstraps were sewn to the chinstrap loops. Post-war the helmets were furnished with chinstraps that were removable rather than sewn. CollectorsContinue reading “US M-1 Swivel Bale*”

Danish M23/38*

General Information: The Danish Model 1923 is the most unique, and to some, the strangest looking combat helmet of the Second World War. No other country used a helmet like this. All of the M23 helmets were fitted with a Danish national coat of arms made of oxidized brass. The ostensible reason for the badge,Continue reading “Danish M23/38*”

New Zealand MKII

$295

Yugoslavian M23*

General Information: The Model 1923 French helmets exported to Yugoslavia were distinct from the M23 helmets produced for the French army in the interwar years. Like the Spanish export French M26s they were made with inferior non-manganese, magnetic steel. The export M23s also had a rolled rim, rather than a separate rim piece welded toContinue reading “Yugoslavian M23*”

Greek M34/39*

$230 SOLD

Czechoslovakian vz.32*

$395 SOLD

British MKI Paratrooper*

General Information: The British officially designated this helmet as the “Helmet Steel Airborne Troops Mark I” or “HSAT MKI” for short. Collectors generally refer to this as the “MKI Paratrooper” helmet. It was mainly produced in 1943 and most surviving examples bear that date on the liner. The helmet was issued from October 1942[1], soContinue reading “British MKI Paratrooper*”