The helmets of Germany came in a variety of designs. The following is an analysis of one of those helmets. Detailed photographs and terminology are given to provide the enthusiast and collector with a better understanding of this fascinating aspect of militaria.

While the item discussed here may not be available for sale, you can see our inventory of German helmets that are by going to our web store.

The M-16 helmet replaced the picklehaube as Germany's main combat helmet. It was developed in response to the many head injuries suffered by soldiers at the front.

One of the most distinctive aspects of the German WWI helmet are the side lugs. They were used to hold a metal face plate that was issued with the helmet. It protected the face but was discarded because it limited visibility. The inside of the helmet came with a leather liner which was attached to a circular steel band that was riveted to the dome of the helmet. Three leather crown pieces were attached to the liner. They formed pockets that held pads designed to make the fit of the helmet more comfortable. A leather crown piece was secured into the slot arround the base of the steel helmet. A lug bolt is used to secure the chin strap to the body of the helmet. One is placed in each side. One side of the helmet has a marking stamp. Many of the helmets were marked with information such as the serial number, the manufacturer's code name, etc. T he rim of the helmet has a rolled edge. The process of rolling the edge was more expensive and time consuming but resulted in a better quality helmet.

If you have an interest is seeing other American military headgear, you can do so by going to our German helmets identification guide. Where we cover Army, Navy, Luftwaffe and other organizations from various time periods.

This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of MilitaryItems.com , a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.