Help with Pith Helmet Please

[Michael Daniel]

My good friend and I were comparing this pith helmet that I recently acquired to pictures of pith's in a book of German helmets and headgear that he had. I am concerned with the buckles where the chinstrap attaches to the helmet in particular. My pith does not have the clips that all off the rest of the pictures I have seen have. Sorry about the poor quality pictures. I am very new in this hobby. Please ask if anyone needs a closer picture to any part.

https://ibb.co/album/j0jr0a

[Tim O'Keefe]

Hi Michael

Welcome to the Forum. Yes that is odd. Possibly means the chinstrap has been switched out post war. But would rather see photos of the entire helmet before passing any judgement. Also better pics where the chinstrap joins the helmet might help.

From just the two photos hard to tell anything and the sweatband also does not look right from these photos. So lets see your Tropenhelm.

with kind regards
Tim

[Michael Daniel]

I put a link to a bunch of other pictures right above the ones I uploaded here if that helps.

[Tim O'Keefe]

For the Forum.

[Gustav 43]

French made one maybe ??

[Tim O'Keefe]

Agree does not look German made. French Pith with four panels & added German insignia ? Better photos will tell.

[Michael Daniel]

Here is a picture of where the strap connects to the helmet. What other pictures would help?

[GAMS1]

KM early type green pith helmet IMO .
Never seen a green french made pith ? only sand , white or blue grey ?
Nick

[Tim O'Keefe]

Hi Nick

There are green French four panel examples. But really just need pics of this entire helmet instead of little pieces & partial views....

[Mark Gibson]

That is definitely a French made Heer pith helmet.
The chinstrap attachment looks no different to other French made examples that I've seen.

Mark

[Michael Daniel]

I added some more images or the pith from further away. So were examples such as this made by Vichy and supplied to the Heer during the war?

[Tim O'Keefe]

Here are a couple more pics. Now not sure it's French either as they are four paneled not six ? Unless there are French six paneled helmets as well ? Though the sweatband does look French. Chinstrap is odd and whole helmet has a strange look. Maybe Nick is correct that this is an early or pre-war German KM helmet ?

The Kurtz Afrikakorps book page #214 has a French made green pith with German KM badges possibly post war added.

Yes the French Piths were used by the Germans during the War but almost always without badges. Hundreds of French piths in storage surplus were found post war in France without any insignia. Many now have German badges added post war.

The lack of wear especially to the sweatband implies this helmet was surplus and am thinking that the German insignia has been added post war.

This is not the type of tropenhelm worn in Afrika during the war.

[Mark Gibson]

Typical Heer example with green leather trim and chinstrap. There are a few of these that are vet bring backs frm North Africa. Not sure where you are getting your information from Tim but I really have to disagree.

Mark

[Tim O'Keefe]

Then we can agree to disagree

"That is definitely a French made Heer pith helmet.
The chinstrap attachment looks no different to other French made examples that I've seen"


That chinstrap and the sweatband and how it is attached are not typical German.
If it's German it will have a makers mark, does it Michael ? Would be underneath the sweatband if so.