This is a French Model 1915 steel helmet manufactured for the Italians. These Italian export helmets were identical to the ones used by French armed forces but for the green paint and lack of holes to accommodate a frontal badge. Italian M15 helmets are not hard to find, but most were converted post-World War OneContinue reading “Italian/French M15”
Tag Archives: Steel Helmet
Turkish M18
General Information: The Turkish Model 1918 was manufactured in Germany by the Eisenhüttenwerk Thale company. It resembles the German helmets of the First World War, but rather than a visor in front, the skirt section continues all the way around the helmet. The reasons for the alteration from the German type are unknown, but thereContinue reading “Turkish M18”
French M15 Intendance
General Information: The intendance was the logistics and supply entity within the French army. It would be roughly equivalent to the quartermaster and ordinance units in the American army. The intendance badge was the last of the eight statutory French army badges that were authorized during the First World War. It is also the scarcest.Continue reading “French M15 Intendance”
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”
French M15 Foreign Legion
General Information: Starting in October 1915 the helmets of African troops serving in the French Army were repainted mustard color. Surviving examples of this type are usually found with external mustard color paint over the original factory blue or grey-blue paint. Typically, the original factory paint remains on the interior. At the very end ofContinue reading “French M15 Foreign Legion”
Lithuanian M16/17*
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*”
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”
Latvian/German M17*
Special Note: It was a dilemma deciding whether to put this helmet in the WWII Axis or the WWII Allied sections. Latvian history during this period is complex. In truth, it belongs in neither section and there should be separate category for helmets from the Baltic republics. To conserve space on my homepage and forContinue reading “Latvian/German M17*”
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*”
Steel Helmets of the World Wars 