German WW1 M1916 Stahlhelm helmet

This is the famous M1916 Stahlhelm (Steel Helmet) If you look very closely you can just make out traces of the original camouflage paint. This was often applied in the field. The side-mounted horn-like ventilator lugs were intended to support for an additional steel brow plate but which only ever saw limited use by snipers ss it was too heavy for general use. The full camo colour scheme can be seen in the library picture in picture 3.
These were developed in 1915 and introduced onto the battlefield in early 1916. These offered much better protection from shrapnel and debris thrown up from shell explosions than the old leather pickelhaube we saw last week. They would not however stop a direct hit with a bullet.
These helmets were used by the German army through WW1 and WW2. They went through several minor changes over the years but retained their distinctive shape up until 1945.
They were also used by many of Germany’s allies in both WW1 and WW2 and after the war many were sold to other countries. The Chinese army continued to use some of these up until 1970s.
After 1918 the treaty of Versailles drastically reduced the size of the German army, so there were no additional helmet designs developed during the Weimar period. Many of the armies from the German stockpile were used by Freikorps units after the war.

Meanwhile in Bavaria an unknown and unregarded young corporal has just become member #55 of the new German workers party.......