| Place | Europe: France, Picardie, Somme, Corbie Albert Area, Sailly-le-Sec |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM00692 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Helmet |
| Physical description | Brass, Leather, Metal |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Date made | Unknown |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
German Pickelhaube helmet: Private Arthur Addison Knapp, 41 Battalion, AIF
Description
Model 1895 leather Pickelhaube. The helmet is painted black and has brass fittings, including a spike with five ventilation holes, visor trim, and rear spine. The Wappen plate is missing, and the leather surface finish has severe crazing. The nine-tongued liner is secured with a length of cord. The cockades and chin strap are missing.
History / Summary
The pickelhaube, in various forms and models, was used by Germany and its states since the 1840s. Features of pickelhauben were based more on military fashion, than on operational functionality, and provided little genuine protection to the wearer.
Usually made of leather (although some cavalry units wore steel pickelhauben) and painted black, helmet fittings would depend on the state, unit and rank of the wearer. Shortages during the First World War saw the introduction of Ersatz Helmets that were made of ersatz (replacement) materials such as felt, tin, steel or fibre. Pickelhauben were gradually phased out in 1916 with the introduction of the steel helmet (stahlhelm).
This pickelhaube was found by Private Arthur Knapp of the 41st Battalion, beside the body of a German soldier killed in the fighting at Sailly-le-Sec on 30 March 1918.