WW1 GERMAN PICKELHAUBE HELMET

The latest in a series of similar helmets dating back to 1842 it was made of boiled leather, this one is shown with zinc spike and fittings (an economy on brass).
The front plate varied according to the Regiment, and the side cockades, of which one was in the Imperial colours and one in the colours of the Land or State of origin.

Your comments:

• An example of the M1915 Pickelhaube helmet, in this case one from Prussia. The grey painted metal mounts were a wartime economy and the spike was detachable, having a twist-off bayonet fitting. Whilst helmet covers were worn by convention, the spike was ordered to be removed when in the line but this order was often ignored. The M1915 was followed by many variants of 'ersatz', or replacement helmets, made of felt and pressed tin, being later made obsolete by the M1916 Stahlhelm. The design of the badge was determined by Kingdom, Principality, Dukedom, of where the man was from, but in some instances a minor variation was purely regimental.
  .......... Martin Boswell, , 24th of August 2010
  
  

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