West German Helmets

[Guardian 5]

A label found inside the helmet.

[Guardian 5]

An exterior photo of the helmet.

[Guardian 5]

My West Berlin Bereitschaftpolizei helmet.

[Guardian 5]

Interior shot.

[myddrcaps]

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...=391037&page=2

Found this in the thread "The first model BGS Helmet" interesting example of an early liner. Looks like it has a similar aluminium band as we are use to seeing in later M53 liners. The adjustment feature on the liner band, as well as the 12 aluminum pins or tacks holding the leather in place.

The obvious difference is how it is attached to the helmet. Must be be a second aluminum band attached to the first to provides the holes for the liner rivets.

The chin strap bales are spot welded to the helmet.

The cloth and leather components are same as the helmet liner in mine. I seem to see a progression in these three liners.

[Gordon Craig]

myddrcaps,

Thanks for the link to Bernhard's post on the early BGS helmets. I must have missed that thread. Ties in very nicely with your helmet. Bernhard is a friend and a very knowledgable helmet collector so what he says would be correct.

Hugh,

I think I need to eat my words re my statement about BRD polizei helmets being green. I should know by now not to make "general" statements. Bernhard uses the term "polizeigrun" in his thread that was referenced by Phil. This points to the fact that polizei helmets are green is taken for granted by helmet collectors but there is always the exception. I got out my helmets and compared them and the best I can say is that different states appear to use different colours and what is green to one person can be seen as blue by another. Anyway, here are some comparison photographs of some polizei helmets for colour comparison.
P.P. Berlin on your right and a very green Bereitshcaft polizei helmet on your left.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

Two different Bereitschaft polizei helmet. The helmet on the left is more blue than green especially when compared to the one on the right. In a different light it appears more green than blue. So much for "generalized" statement.

Regards,

Gordon

[myddrcaps]

Gordon,

The Berlin and Hamburg helmets, are they the only ones with decals? I have never seen any others. (In my year of collecting)

The Berlin one, that is a VDN - Vereingte Deutsche Nickelwerke helmet? Correct? If I recall, The vent holes have a different shape than a quist or LS helmet.

Gordon and Hugh, thanks for sharing the photo!

George.

[langemarck]

here's another one, Saarland. it's a Quist.

[langemarck]

and this is supposed to be Wurtemberg, but I'm not 100% sure of it's originality.
it's a Quist also.

[Gordon Craig]

Gordon,

The Berlin and Hamburg helmets, are they the only ones with decals? I have never seen any others. (In my year of collecting)

The Berlin one, that is a VDN - Vereingte Deutsche Nickelwerke helmet? Correct? If I recall, The vent holes have a different shape than a quist or LS helmet.

Gordon and Hugh, thanks for sharing the photo!

George.

Berlin helmets do not have a decal. My P.P. Berlin was made by LS. The decals shown on my helmets are for Baden-Wurtemburg (three lions), and Hamburg (castle). Saarlandes is posted above. Other polizei that used shield decals were Bremen and Bayerisch Bereitschaftpolizei. Hamburg and Bremen used a tricolour shield on the other side of their helmets. The other polizei did not. The shields were discontinued circa 1986. Baden-Wurtemburg and Hamburg helmets were available a few years ago but all of these helmets are now very hard to find.
Schleswig-Holstein used a shield in a polizei star on the front of a white helmet. U.S. helmet liners, painted white, were used by Nurnberg with POLIZEI in black across the front or a decal with a city crest in the centre of a polizei star also across the front of the helmet. These are reported to have been used in the 50s. There are probably other polizei helmets out there with decals that have not been put into print yet.

Regards,

Gordon

This is a PS after my post. These decals have now been reproduced so be careful if you ever consider buying one a helmet with a decal.

[Gordon Craig]

langemarck,

Thanks for posting pictures of your helmets. Both very hard to come by. Especially as WWII helmets.

Regards,

Gordon

[Bernhard]

Very interresting information , gentlemen.
Thanks for posting !

Regards

Bernhard

[Gordon Craig]

langemarck,

It would be appreciated if you would post pictures of the interior of your two hemlemts on this thread showing the liners and the markings,

Regards,

Gordon

[langemarck]

here you go,
Saarland,