Go on, post your FJ DAK Helmet!!!

[WalterB]

The purpose of this thread is to hopefully, with the cooperation of other members of our esteemed Forum, to present in one thread as reference as many FJ helmets that have North African provenance as possible. So, to the extent that any members out there have any FJ helmets with North African provenance, please post pictures of them, together with any known history on them! Perhaps through examination of the camouflage patterns, paint used, application techniques, lot numbers, liner types and other relevant information, we can find out additional data that may be useful. At the very least, this thread can be of great interest with respect to this subject matter.

In order to properly proceed with this thread, I think it would be prudent to provide some background history. The main FJ unit involved in the North African campaign was the famed Ramcke Brigade (a brigade is a military formation that is typically composed of 3 to 6 battalions plus supporting elements). Admittedly, there were a few other FJ units in the North African campaign that were not part of the Ramcke Brigade, but I will focus on the Ramcke Brigade for now. By the way, if any members are interested in FJ involvement in the DAK, I highly recommend the following two excellent books: (a) "German Paratroops in North Africa" by John Hodgin (Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2008), and (b) "Fallschirmjager Brigade Ramcke" by Edgar Alcidi (Schiffer Publishing Ltd., 2009). By the way, to the extent that any members who are advanced FJ DAK collectors / historians have anything to add or correct, please feel free to do so! There is no pride of authorship in this thread.

[WalterB]

The Ramcke Brigade was an amalgamation of various battalions (Kampfgruppes, really) that were plucked from FJ units of various different regiments and divisions. Mr. Aldici estimates the total number of FJ that made up the Ramcke Brigade to be between 3,600 and 4,600 jagers. The Ramcke Brigade was deployed to Norht Africa in August 1942 and was involved in the Second Battle of El Alamein and subsequent combat operations until eventual surrender in Tunisia in May 1943. Combat casualties (KIA, WIA and POWs) suffered by the Ramcke Brigade in North Africa were substantial, and those who were not evacuated or who didn't manage to escape from Tunisia in May 1943 were lost in the surrender of the Axis forces there.

The Ramcke Brigade was composed of four main Kampfgruppes:

(a) Kampfgruppe Kroh: Commanded by Major Kroh and consisted primarily of the first battalion of FJR2 (I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 2), whcih was part of the 2nd FJ Division. This battalion had just returned from deployment in the eastern front (Russia).

(b) Kampfgruppe Von der Heydte: Commanded by Major von der Heydte and consisted primarily of the first battalion of FJR3 (I./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 3), which was part of the 1st FJ Division.

( c) Kampfgruppe Burkhardt: Commanded by Major Burkhardt and consisted primarily of a reinforced Lehr Battalion of the 11th Flieger Corps (Fallschirmjäger-Lehr-Battalion/XI.Flieger-Korps) which was the only unit within the Ramcke Brigade which had
previously served in the North African theater.

(d) Kampfgruppe Hübner: Commanded by Major Hübner and consisted primarily of the second battalion of FJR 5 (II./Fallschirmjäger-Regiment 5), which was part of the 3rd FJ Division.

In addition, the Ramcke Brigade included the second battalion of an FJ artillery regiment (II./Fallschirm-Artillerie-Regiment 7) formed from the 2nd Battalion of 7th Flieger Division's parachute Artillery Regiment and commanded by Major Fenski, a pioneer company (Pionier-Kompanie) led by Oberleutenant Tietjen, and an anti-tank company (Panzerjäger-Kompanie) composed of thirty-six 3.7cm PaK 35/36 and commanded by Oberleutenant Hasendeder.

With respect to camouflaging FJ helmets of units that became part of the Ramcke Brigade, Mr. Alcidi includes on page 52 of his book a very interesting anecdote told by Uffz. Gottfried Emrich, a member of Kampfgruppe Von der Heydte, while he was still based in Hildesheim, Germany prior to deployment to North Africa:

"At the end of June 1942 heavy transport vehicles delivered entire loads of clothing and
underwear for tropical conditions. We were all put to work as painters. My steel helmet got a
third coat of paint (this time yellow). Everything made of leather was painted by hand;
weapons and vehicles were spray-painted."

I mention the above composition of the Ramcke Brigade and the anecdote of Uffz. Emrich above because it helps explain why there is no single, homogeneous camo scheme and/or application with respect to the FJ helmets of the Ramcke Brigade. Unlike unit-wide consistency in camo pattern and application of FJ units like the 6th FJ Regiment's tan and green sprayed woodchip camos, the Ramcke Brigade helmets do not have one unique camo pattern/application. Rather, the Ramcke Brigade FJ helmets appear to follow about 3 types of color and application techniques.

The fact that they have 3 types of camo color and application techniques makes perfect sense to me if you consider, as mentioned above, that the Ramcke Brigade was put together from battalions that were part of different FJ regiments and divisions and, in addition, at least with respect to some Kampfgruppes, that the camouflage application process of its helmets occurred before actual deployment to North Africa. Thus, it appears that each Kampfgruppe had its own unit-wide camouflage paint and application preferences. In addition, there are some examples of FJ helmets that we have seen which are tan camos and directly under the tan camo there is a winter camo. This seemingly incongruent circumstance could, perhaps, be easily explained when you consider a unit such as the FJ battalion of Kampfgruppe Kroh. Such battalion had recently completed service in Russia before being transferred to North Africa.

In any event, based on Mr. Hodgin's excellent book and information, Ramcke Brigade FJ camos appear to fall into three general categories of camouflage paint and application techniques:

1. Category I: A rough textured khaki-yellowish tan camo, derived from applying fine-grained sand to the wet/undried khaki-yellowish tan paint. The paint and sand on these helmets was applied thickly and FJ helmets with this camo scheme do not show any decals and the bolts are often almost all covered up by the thick paint as a result. For ease of reference in this thread, we will refer to this camo scheme as "Category I".

2. Category II: Solid khaki-tan. Mr. Hodgin indicates in his book that this camo scheme is a true tan color and, unlike Category I or Category III (described below), there is no yellow color to this paint. The paint was applied thickly through the use of a spray gun, but there are also examples in existence that have this color applied with hand brush. Mr. Hodgin also indicates that it is believed that this camo scheme was applied in Germany prior to deployment to North Africa. It is also suspected that FJ helmets with this camo scheme may have been part of Kampfgruppe Hübner. For ease of reference in this thread, we will refer to this camo scheme as "Category II".

3. Category III: Light khaki-yellow over spray scheme that leaves a "speckled" look. Mr. Hodgin mentions in his book that this camo scheme may have been used by two of the Kampfgruppes of the Ramcke Brigade and that such camo scheme was applied in Germany prior to deployment to North Africa. FJ helmets with this type of camo scheme were apparently lined up side-by-side and sprayed from a top-down direction causing a more heavy khaki-yellow on the crown, front and back area of the helmet and leaving a finer overspray on the sides of the shell. As a result, the decals have the lighter overspray and are more easily discernable than the Category I and Category II camo schemes. Mr. Hodgin notes that this application had the effect of giving such FJ helmets a two-toned or mottled appearance. For ease of reference in this thread, we will refer to this camo scheme as "Category III".

As a side note, there are some FJ helmets with North African provenance that exhibit the pinkish tan camo that is more typically recognized as the DAK camo, but it appears that such pinkish tan camo was applied by an FJ unit that was not part of the Ramcke Brigade units. Perhaps part of a Battalion of Fallschirm Pioneers under the command of Major Witzig, who were given the task of strengthening an area to the west of Tunis in direct line of Allied advance? Also, please note that as the DAK units retreated back to Tunisia, the FJ helmets may have received further camo enhancements. In particular, some FJ helmets exist that exhibit green paint added over a tan base camo (thought to be a subsequent modification for better camouflage in Tunisia were the terrain exhibited more low foliage).

[WalterB]

In any event, with the above information and proper context now presented, it is time to post any FJ helmets with North African provenance!!

I will take this opportunity to post a helmet that I recently added to my collection. I acquired it from Mr. Mike Davis and I am very happy with it. Mr. Davis provided me with the W-A Forum name of the person who sourced it (his name is Alan Coleman). I subsequently contacted Alan who lives in Johannesburg, South Africa, and he confirmed that he obtained the helmet in 2014 directly from the son of a South African WWII vet. The son indicated that his father had picked the helmet up himself in North Africa, brought it home and that the helmet had been in his family since the war. As you may know, South African units fought members of the Ramcke Brigade during the Second Battle of El Alamein.

On to the pictures of my helmet. As you will see, it is a single decal M38, ET68, with a lot number of 4852. It exhibits the Category III camo scheme, but it is a very well worn example.

[WalterB]

Side view, not faint overspray. Next picture is a close-up of the eagle. In addition to the detail of the eagle, please note the fine overspray and "speckled" appearance of the application. Typical of the Category III camo scheme.

[WalterB]

Going towards the rear of the shell.

[WalterB]

This example is consistent with other Category III helmets in that it displays a thicker overspray in the back area of the shell.

[WalterB]

Side by side camo application of Category III helmets led to a faint overspray on the sides of the shells. This example shows a very faint overspray, leaving a more mottled / two-tone camo appearance.

[WalterB]

More pictures

[WalterB]

Higher-angled pictures show the very well worn crown area of the shell. If you look closely, from these pictures one is able to discern a faint evidence of this helmet having once been stacked under some other helmets. It is an interesting detail that I had not been able to see until I was out examining it outside in a bright day. Perhaps this evidence of stacking is consistent with a helmet that was acquired from a capture / surrender pile?

[WalterB]

On to the liner. The liner and chinstraps are similarly well worn. The liner is marked in two places with the following faint initials "H.M." The liner is of particular interest since it is a variant manufactured by Heisler that has a spliced liner band. It is interesting to note that another FJ helmet with North African provenance (owned by Davidsw) has the same, exact type of variant liner.

[WalterB]

More

[WalterB]

More pics.

[WalterB]

Detail of the spliced liner band:

[WalterB]

It is also interesting that there is a piece of cord made of fiber (as opposed to the cotton-based liner string). It reminds me of the material that helmet nets are made of. In any event, it is tied to the liner and used to form a loop (which has now been cut). I can only assume that it was a loop that was added in order to be able to hang the helmet.

[WalterB]

Last picture is how I currently displayed it in the war room. I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Other FJ helmets with North African provenance, please post!!