Polish Paratrooper Helmet

[Bob Hritz]

One of my favorite helmets is this Polish Paratroop helmet. It is the standard British para helmet with the Polish eagle and a very subdued tan and green camoflage finish. The band is marked BMB 1944.

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

Profile

[Gary Jucha]

Source

Bob,
May I ask the source of this helmet ? as there's only a few positively confirmed Polish Para helmets in existence.

.. Here's an example of a 100% "confirmed" item.
This helmet was donated to the Krakow air museum by Jerzy Dyrda, who was Major General Sosabowski's Adjutant at Arnhem.

Regards

Gary J.

[Bob Hritz]

About 6 years ago, an attorney friend of mine asked me to assist on the evaluation of an estate which contained militaria. I went to the home of the deceased and upon entering the attic found about 200 helmets, from different countries, a huge collection of US patches and insignia, and other militaria. The family was so stunned when they saw the number I presented, via their attorney, that I was offered the opportunity to buy the militaria. I had sold most, at a MAX show, in the back hall at Monroeville, and kept a few dozen that I liked. I only wished I had known how rare and valuable were some of the foreign helmets I sold. No one tipped me off that I was selling very rare helmets for low prices!

The most interesting part is that this person lived less than 5 miles from me and neither I, nor any local collector, had ever heard of him. He was employed by a funeral home and, according to his family, got the majority of his collection from the families of derceased veterans.

I have no 'vet' story, with this helmet. However, some of the rarest helmets I have ever seen were in this group.

Bob Hritz

[gzegosh]

Polish Paratrooper Helmet

thanks fBob or sharing it...interesting to see the difference between the two helmets
does anyone know more about these helmets?
george...where are you....
you who know about these things?
g

About 6 years ago, an attorney friend of mine asked me to assist on the evaluation of an estate which contained militaria. I went to the home of the deceased and upon entering the attic found about 200 helmets, from different countries, a huge collection of US patches and insignia, and other militaria. The family was so stunned when they saw the number I presented, via their attorney, that I was offered the opportunity to buy the militaria. I had sold most, at a MAX show, in the back hall at Monroeville, and kept a few dozen that I liked. I only wished I had known how rare and valuable were some of the foreign helmets I sold. No one tipped me off that I was selling very rare helmets for low prices!

The most interesting part is that this person lived less than 5 miles from me and neither I, nor any local collector, had ever heard of him. He was employed by a funeral home and, according to his family, got the majority of his collection from the families of derceased veterans.

I have no 'vet' story, with this helmet. However, some of the rarest helmets I have ever seen were in this group.

Bob Hritz

[DJT]

Hi Bob,

Can you post a close up of the eagle please.

[Guy]

Dear Bob,

Nice to have you posting here, thanks for taking the trouble.

To make the best educated guess possible I think more photos would be required both of the interior and exterior. As Gary has stated genuine, provenanced, Polish helmets are exceptionally rare. In SS terms one is probably looking at a pea green double decal with whitewash and wire. Terrible analogy I know but I was just trying to think of a comparably rare SS helmet so please don't kick me head in .

I only know of 2 unquestionable pieces in existance. The one Gary has shown and one in the collection of a Dutch friend. It would be an obsurdity to assume that there aren't more out there, rather like the "6 pink piped ss caps in the world" theory that I know you have taken issue with in the past .
However this one (from the photos so far) Isn't giving me great feelings.

The finish is quite unusual for a wartime paint job and the paint it's self appears to contain aggregate. I have had wartime helmets with this finish but it is usually very crudely executed by mixing paint with sand and sploshing it on. This seems to be applied with a spray gun and I have seen this far more on post war painted lids. Also this helmet is very similar to a couple of re-paints I saw at an English gun show 4 or 5 years ago with a yellow eagle sprayed through a stencil.

I must stress that this is all from the photos so far and as we know digital cameras are accomplished liars. I can't write this helmet off out of hand but as I have said it doesn't fill me with confidence. If you would like to please post more detailed pictures and perhaps one of the lads here will prove me wrong. I sincerely hope they do!

Thanks once again for taking the time to post over here.

Yours, Guy.

[Bob Hritz]

Hello Guy,


Thanks for the information. I would really like to know if it is authentic or if someone has just embellished a nice helmet. I am attaching more photos.

First, the liner, which is dry.

Bob Hritz

[Bob Hritz]

The eagle

[Bob Hritz]

The eagle, again which shows multiple layers of paint on the helmet.

[Bob Hritz]

Top of helmet which shows multiple layers of paint.

[SMP]

A lot of original helmets were repainted for the film "a bridge too far". These were later sold onto the collectors market here in the U.K. Perhaps someone with the film on DVD could compare the stencil used on this helmet with those that appear in the film.
I remember the time when it was impossible to find an original helmet WITHOUT a Polish eagle in London !

Regards,
Steve

[Gary Jucha]

Eagle

Bob,
Thanks for the indepth reply concerning the history of the helmet.

.. I wasn't trying to be negative by the way, .. its just that in the last few years there has been quite a few Polish Para helmets turn up, with various styles of Eagle, and as Guy mentioned, it can be so difficult to tell.

... 1st off concerning the eagle, ... it was originally painted in gas detection paint, .. and I must admit the yellow on your Eagle looks a bit too bright. BUT, in saying that, it might have been overpainted at a slightly later date possibly.

.. My main concern however, is that the majority of the Polish Para helmets that turn up are of the web strap Para Helmet variety, ... which tends to leave me with the feeling that anybody who is trying to embelish a helmet, does not attempt it with the earlier pattern Fibre rim types ...
But again, the Poles were issued with the web strap, as know doubt you have seen pictures of Major General Sosabowski wearing one during the actual battle.

Regards

Gary J.

[Bob Hritz]

Hello Gary,

Thanks for the help. Please feel free to disguss the helmet. I will never know without the help of those who have the expertise.

I live high in the desert and it is difficult to get a good photo, in the daylight sun. The helmet is darker as is the yellow eagle. i see no stencil marks or gaps and the paint appears to be hand applied.

The collection from which this helmet came was not built by someone I knew so I don't know his expertise or source. There were many fine helmets and many common pieces. It is not impossible he was duped when he obtained it, or bought it as a restored/replica helmet. Heck, he could have painted the eagle himself! Of course, there were no other fake or embellished helmets in the collection, but the helmet must stand on its own merits, or lack of same.

I would love to find a nice British para helmet. I recall buying them, in the late 1960's for under $10. I imagine the price has risen since then!!!

Bob Hritz

[Gary Jucha]

Bmb

Bob,
The actual helmet you have is a well recognised example of a British Production WW2 para Helmet !

BMB (Briggs Motor Bodies) are the accepted manufacturer of British Para Helmets.
Their examples range through from the early pattern Fibre rim leather strap type, and indeed I believe they were the manufacturer of the famous "P" type (Bruneval raid).

I have no hesitation in stating that you've a good example of a web strap later war issue British Para helmet, .. so from that point at least, you've got a good one.

Moving on to the Polish Issue, as you appreciate, the only real difference is the addition of the Eagle.
I presume you have checked the liner throughly ? (Turn the leather out and check for any personal "inking" - there might be a chance of a personal name or maybe a number !).

Regards again ...

Gary J.