Walt Disney – His Role in German Cammo Helmet Production

[Brad Posey]

I do not mean to start another conspiracy....but......

I just heard about this recently and thought it might be something to share here if no one has heard about this. First of all I did not know that Walt Disney was a Doughboy, however he arrived in France after the Armistice.

But it seems he had a role in fake German painted helmets……… go figure…….

“Walt earned extra money by teaming up with another young soldier who had created a sideline enterprise of selling souvenirs to homeward bound soldiers. While the other young man obtained German helmets, Walt used his artistic skill to transform them into very rare German sniper helmets by making them look battle scared with quick drying shellac, some paint, banging them up, shooting a bullet hole into them and attaching hair and dried blood. The two boys made quite a lot of money to send home.”

Check it out: http://www.mouseplanet.com/8383/World_War_One_Walt


Despite being "fake" I bet a Walt Disney "fake" would be as collectible or more so than the real deal.... Oh no...now we will start seeing "Walt Disney" Cammo's on eBay.


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[VtwinVince]

So this is how the Disney empire got it's startWho knew?

[MauserKar98k]

I've never heard of this before. If it's true, that's very interesting.

[Hoss]

Brad
You,ve probably got every Imperial collector this side of the pond double checking
out their lids on Christmas Eve. AAAAHHH!
Her:"Oh for heavens sake! leave that junk alone for one night"
Him: "Yes Dear, light of my life I,ll be right there".....

[Brad Posey]

I think an "original" Walt Disney fake painted lid woud be rarer than a real painted lid and certainly 110% better than the modern fakes.


I did not make this up....evidently it is true :-)


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[Ammersee]

I wonder where they got the hair and blood to put inside the helmets? If it was human hair and blood, then that's pretty sick. Gary

[Brad Posey]

I wonder where they got the hair and blood to put inside the helmets? If it was human hair and blood, then that's pretty sick. Gary

They probably used pig or other animal blood....hair from the barber shop maybe?


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[TONY GANZ]

helmet painting

I read in Disney's bio that he painted helmets after the end of the war to earn extra money. Walt was an ambulance driver with the Red Cross. He volunteered to serve as his brother Roy was already overseas. They were both very close. I believe Walt was too young to enlist.

[Hoss]

Brad
How is the Verdun area these days. Its been a long time since I was there. Disappearing into the woods, with its collasped entrances to dugouts etc,
they used to be a lot of relics laying around. For example a guy I know briefly, found a half buried rotting maxim gun. I hope they,re not cleaning it up to much.
The fields like where you were, do you get chased by farmers for trespassing?

Eric

Tony
Check the link in Brad,s post. Its interesting.

[GWA]

There is a grain of truth to the story but Disney was not trying to deceive anyone. I believe that alot of what he painted were doughboy helmets for the individual soldiers. He may also have decorated some Stahlhelm but probably with American or allied patriotic themes.

I have seen one of his doughboy helmets and may have photos of it.

[Brad Posey]

There is a grain of truth to the story but Disney was not trying to deceive anyone. I believe that alot of what he painted were doughboy helmets for the individual soldiers. He may also have decorated some Stahlhelm but probably with American or allied patriotic themes.

Not according to that article....it specifically says: "...While the other young man obtained German helmets, Walt used his artistic skill to transform them into very rare German sniper helmets by making them look battle scared with quick drying shellac, some paint...."


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[Mr.Jerry D]

While that is indeed what the article says, the author cites no sources for that very specific information, which makes me think it started simply as a simple fact "Walt painted up helmets" and was embellished over the years by reporters - like his discharge misinformation. There were probably plenty of those real battle scarred helmets laying around back then as well.

I have contacted the author too see where he got that information. Inquiring minds want to know.

[juoneen]

It is true, and I mentioned it in a thread long ago ,so ,we never know when we buy one with camo, if its a disney or not, but you have a better chance at buying a disney camo than an original painted by a german soldier. That one factor makes me appreciate all the ones i own. maybe walts sons might recall from his memoirs if he ever told the story on the subject or not...anyway...Merry christmas.

[GWA]

Here are some rather poor photos of a helmet that many believe was done by Disney. Both the Masonic emblem and the unique style of the cartoon-like doughboy contribute greatly to the likelyhood that it is.

[GWA]

Two more photos