| Accession Number | REL/00992 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Helmet |
| Physical description | Cotton, Horse hair, Leather, Steel |
| Location | Main Bld: First World War Gallery: Western Front 1916: Weaponry |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Germany |
| Date made | c 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
German Model 1916 steel helmet
Description
German Army Model 1916 steel helmet painted in fieldgrey (grey-green) and complete with a pair of ventilation lugs, chinstrap attachment rivets, brown leather headband and a three-piece, two-tongue liner with a portion of white cotton drawstring. There are fabric pockets, each with a cotton tie, behind each of the liner pads. Two are empty and one contains a pad filled with horsehair. Stamped in black ink on the inside of the rear apron of the helmet, is '68' [the size] and 'AK' [an acceptance mark]. The chin strap is missing.
History / Summary
The specific history of this helmet is unknown. It is a Model 1916 version which was the first pattern of chromium-nickel steel pressed helmet introduced by the German Army, developed to counter the alarming number of head injuries suffered by troops in the first two years of the war, when the leather pickelhaub was predominant. It differs from later models in having a leather liner band, rather than the later steel band.