Kingfish Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 I've always been curious as to why there are so many different kinds of Helmets, especially within the German armed forces in WW2, when in reality they all perform the same function. Is quick battlefield identification of friend / foe a goal for helmet design? Here is a pic of a M42 German helmet. I am assuming that the protruding lip running along the front is there to offer some protection to the face from enemy fire and the elements, but what about the back? Is the lower edge designed to protect the ears and back of the neck? If so, why was it not included in the Fallschrimjager helmet? Would those features be a liablility during combat jumps? 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouse Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 Originally posted by Kingfish: I've always been curious as to why there are so many different kinds of Helmets, especially within the German armed forces in WW2, when in reality they all perform the same function. Is quick battlefield identification of friend / foe a goal for helmet design? Here is a pic of a M42 German helmet. I am assuming that the protruding lip running along the front is there to offer some protection to the face from enemy fire and the elements, but what about the back? Is the lower edge designed to protect the ears and back of the neck? If so, why was it not included in the Fallschrimjager helmet? Would those features be a liablility during combat jumps? Imagine coming down in a wooded area. The last I'd want is a branch to catch my helmet edge while the helmet was still firmly attached to my neck. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodlebug Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 I've always understood that the origins of national styles of helmet shape lies a lot farther back than you imagine - in fact centuries. The German helmet is styled after a 15th century sallet and the British helmet after a kettle hat of similar antiquity. The practicalities of war caused the development of more specialised forms like the Fallschirmjager helmet. As the previous poster said in that situation you do not want protruding rims that, if caught on an obstacle as you landed, risked snapping the neck. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brightblade Posted August 1, 2003 Share Posted August 1, 2003 I found two interesting links about the German helmets: Bookmasters.com and Stahlhelms.com By the end of the war, Germany developed a new helmet model. It looked quite different from the M42 model, but was supposed to offer better protection against penetration. However, the German High Command decided against this new helmet as the older model was just too popular and too well recognized by friend and foe alike (at least that´s what I was told about it). After the war, the East German army (NVA - Nationale Volksarmee (National People´s Army)) equipped their soldiers with this helmet model. [ August 01, 2003, 04:00 PM: Message edited by: Brightblade ] 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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