Russian WWII helmets

[Richard]

Did the Russians ever use leather liners in their helmets during World War II? I have heard that the ones that have leather liners are post war Czech and wanted to verify this. I was given 2 helmets (sorry, no digital camera with which to take and post pictures). One is a very dark green color with an aged leather liner and chinstrap. The liner has eight narrow fingers with five vent holes that are arranged with 1 near the eyelet for the drawstring and four more toward the base of the liner with each pair parallel to one another. There are 5 more vent holes at the base of the liner arranged in a pattern of 3 in line with the other 2 in line below that. There are 8 individual white colored felt pads between the leather liner and the helmet. The metal liner retainer is rivited to the helmet. There are 3 rivits visible on the outside of the shell. One in the center rear and the other two quite forward.

The other is a lighter olive drab color and with a newish looking leather liner and chinstrap. The eight fingers each have five vent holes arranged in a pattern like the face of a die that has the five spots on it. This one has felt below the leather in a band that runs the circumference of the liner. It is a grey felt strip with a toothed pattern. This helmet also has 3 rivits. One is at the rear center the other two are not as far forward as the first helmet and are nearer the center of the sides. This helmet is somewhat more oval than the first (the first is more rounded) and the side dips are not as pronounced. The front of this helmet has a more pronounced "bill" that portrudes further out than the one on the first helmet.

I realize that this is difficult without pictures and only hope that I have provided enough description to help in the ID. Any help is appreciated.
Richard V

[Joe]

Hi Richard
I just looked through the book Combat Helmets of The World by Paolo Marzetti. It states the Russian Ssh39 used both an oilcloth & leather liner. I have a postwar Polish Wz50 helmet with a liner that matches your description on the 1st helmet. Does the helmets have any marking or stamping inside?

Joe

[Joe]

Here's the liner

[Joe]

Here's the shell of the polish Wz50.

[Frentebro]

Try the Military Helmet Collectors Club at Yahoo.com

[Richard]

Thanks very much for the replies. Joe, the helmet you have pictured is a dead ringer for mine. I have to say that I am somewhat dissappointed to find out that it is postwar but since it was given to me, I guess there is not much to complain about.
Richard V

[Joe]

Hey Richard
When I first picked up my helmet I thought it was Russian too. I bought it from a surplus store near the military bases in NC. The owner said it was a Saudi helmet. The soldier who sold it to him said that's where he got it. So I grabbed my helmet book and starting looking. I found out the Warsaw pact countries copied the Soviet helmet and exported them to the mideast. The Saudis did'nt use this type of helmet. But Iraq did. The picture in the book of the WW11 Russian helmet with the leather liner looks like it has nine fingers. I recommend getting Combat Helmets of The World by Paolo Marzetti. It's help me identify a lot of helmets.
The second liner you desrcibed sounds like it's the Czech liner. It has the hole pattern like you described.
Joe

[DaveM]

3 section liner

Hi Richard,
while not being an expert on Russian or any other WWII helmets,
I have seen a number of Russian WWII helmets from decent to relic condition and both the M-36 and M-39/40 models feature a sectional liner made up of 3 triangular pads of oilskin held on by 6 rivets....they may also be retrofitted with a standard 8 tongue leather liner...this may be late or postwar though!
cheers,
Dave