WW2 Soviet helmet covers

[Marc Shaffer]

Howdee,
I was reading through Clawson's book on the Soviet helmet. In it, he mentions helmet covers for the Ssh-39/40 helmet. Not that it means much as I'm pretty new to collecting Soviet helmets, but I haven't seen any in period photos or have seen any mention of them elsewhere. I was wondering if any members had these covers or period photos of them in use that they wouldn't mind posting? Would also like to see any post war variations of helmet covers too!
Cheers!
Marc Shaffer

[Bernhard]

Hi Marc,

I am really interrested in soviet WWII helmets too.
Concerning the use of helmet covers I have never seen any
period photos showing their use.
This makes two of us as I am curious too.

Regards

Bernhard

[FlagRodini]

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[FlagRodini]

[FlagRodini]

[FlagRodini]

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[Kozlov]

Some interesting photos there!

I've not seen those ones before but I have seen pictures of bits of the ameoba pattern oversmock used as helmet covers and also string nets from WW2.

Postwar again in some pictures you see hoods from the KLMK oversuit used as a helmet net or from the KZS cammo hoods. Really late on in the late 80's in the DDR you also see bits of cam net used on helmets.

It did happen but I think all of these were locally made/adopted, there was no issue of such items even to "elite" units.

[Bernhard]

Very interresting pics !
Thank you for taking the time to share them with us.
Regards
Bernhard

[Wesley's Dad]

Helmet Covers

The limted photo set from Manchuria shown in the photos posted is the best known example. My personal feel is that those shown are either the hoods from the camo smocks converted to covers, made from large sections of material out of the smocks, or possibly the bags of like material that many of these suits were issued in. There is always the chance there was limited issue of a purpose made item, but it seems odd that the officers shown in that photo set are the only good clear photos if it was.

There have been a couple offered for sale by a particular eBay vendor, but were regarded as quite dubious... yet one sold for several hundred dollars. Easily faked, even from original material. If you see one for sale, I'd say run... don't walk.

[Soviet]

Mike, it's nice to see you here.

Were these covers only used during Lake Khasan battle Halhin Gol battle?

[FlagRodini]

Quote from a Ukrainian associate: "But personally my opinion, that covers from a protective matter on helmets were all the same the initiative of fighters and commanders, instead of things of release from stores. Otherwise, these subjects necessarily would be present in the nomenclature of equipment РККА or in manuals on regulation."

But at the same time another associate from Russia writes this: "Начиная с 1941 года "чехол к стальному шлему" фигурирует во всех документах: от норм снабжения до перечней цен на швейные изделия. Существуют и даные об объемах реальных заказов и другие сведения.

Цвет чехла полагался "по сезону": летом - хаки, зимой - белый.
Чехлы кроились из четырех пар клиньев различной конфигурации, подобранной так, что готовый чехол одинаково хорошо на подходил
и на "халхинголку" и на СШ-39 (40). Существуют живые коллекционные предметы (цвета хаки).
"


I left this quote as it was, as it was a difficult one to translate. I do not have my version handy at this time. Sorry...

In any case, as of yet, I myself have never seen any type of illustrated or written regulation on this subject, nor a genuine example of any type of cover. So, my opinion parallels Mike's and my Ukrainian associate's.

Image from a German photo album for interest's sake;

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[Wesley's Dad]

Helmet Covers

Mike, it's nice to see you here.
Were these covers only used during Lake Khasan battle Halhin Gol battle?

Thanks Bryan, it's good to find time to be back! These photos from that particular battle are the only photos I am aware of that show the covers in use so clearly. I have no idea if they were used elsewhere. I am tempted to say they probably were, but if so the rarity of such a situation can not be over stated.