Name in helmet

[darryl-P]

Gentlemen,

I have a helmet with a name painted in the rear skirt. The trouble is that it is written in the old Sutterlin script. The first name is Horst but the last name is He---mann. Can anyone help?

Thanks,

[darryl-P]

Just bringing this back to the top in hopes that someone with Sutterlin expertise might be able to translate this name for me.

Cheers,

[CWP]

Could it be Heuemann?

Chris P.

[darryl-P]

Chris,

Thanks for your suggestion. I have had a few people contact me off line and suggest Heutlmann, Heictmann, Heinemann and even Hartmann. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. It is too bad because I would like to do some research and to start I need to be certain about the name. It looks like it might remain a mystery.

[Luftm40]

That second letter looks lke an "a" to me...I think it is Haussmann or perhaps Hautsmann. It could also be Hartmann I guess...The middle letters are worn and tough to make out.

[darryl-P]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for taking the time to look and to respond to my query. It is very hard to determine isn't it? It would be nice to be 100% sure of what it says but I suppose that may not be possible. Too bad.

Cheers,

[Rich G]

Darryl

It would have to be sutterlin! So hard to read in even normal conditions.

Have you tried to black-light it to see if any more of the letters stand out more or sometimes making the picture into a negative image can reveal more.

Rich

[darryl-P]

Hi Rich,

I don't own a black light but the negative image was a good tip...thanks. Here it is as such. In this image you can see where the owner scratched his name into the paint first and then later painted it overtop.

[Larrister]

Hi Darryl,

I think the name is Hartmann.

[Luftm40]

I agree...yes, Hartmann

[amydron]

Pity the name is Hartmann, it's a common German surname.
I think you'll be lucky to trace anything further on this soldier.
Regards,
RAY.

[Luftm40]

Having the full name...Horst Hartmann...certainly will help though! Knowing Darryl, I'm sure this is an SS helmet so that narrows it down too

[amydron]

Good luck in your research!

[Rolf D.]

Is this an M16 or an M18?

[darryl-P]

Thanks guys.

I appreciate all your help. I will relay this info on to my researcher and will wait and see if he comes up with anything on a Horst Hartmann.

The helmet is an early hand-painted insignia SS M16 German shell and in black, naturally. Given the vintage of the helmet the fellow would have been a fairly early member of the SS...say 1934-ish.

Cheers,