Hi,
I have been researching Greek WW2 helmets for some time now and I have some questions regarding the Italian M34 helmets. I would be really grateful for any assistance.
It is widely accepted among collectors that the shells of the Greek M34/39 helmets were produced in Italy, and after arriving in Greece unfinished, production, including painting and the fitting of liners and chinstraps, was completed locally. According to this scenario, not all of the ordered helmets arrived in Greece, due to the outbreak of the conflict between the two countries on October 28, 1940.
My first question is: Is there any archival evidence of this in Italy? Is there really evidence that a huge stock of rejected M34s was sold unfinished to Greece?
Although this is the most widely known story among collectors in Greece, it first appeared in some military history magazines about two decades ago. Due to the lack of archival sources, those contained several mistakes.
On the other hand, a relatively recent publication shows evidence that the truth might be different. The proceedings of the Greek Supreme Council of National Defense were found and published (K. Vlassis, "Οι Εξοπλισμοί της Ελλάδος 1936 - 1940, Doureios Ippos, Athens, 2013). They make mention of the competition for the "new" helmets between six Greek, German and Czech companies, unfortunately without stating the suggested helmet types or any possible prototype designs. However, it is clearly stated that after eleven months of repeated competitions and trials, the winner was a relatively small Greek industrial unit, based on the island of Kea, the "Greek Enamel and Metalworks Industry" of Ath. Konstas (Record No. 20, 14/12/1936, pages 104 - 107).
Two further interesting points are mentioned in the document. Among the winning company's terms is their request for the import of Swedish steel, and the evaluation commitee's report, stating that the aforementioned company can indeed handle the production of a helmet as a whole. With a contract of 250.000 units to be handed over to the Army General Depot of Pereaus in a timeframe of ten months, and an estimated monthly production of 50.000 units, it looks like the plan had been covered.
A later contract for 3.665 helmets for Royal Air Force ground personnel was accepted on 13/6/1940 (Record No. 67, page 440). Again, the contract is for complete helmets, with a possible import of steel from the US. No mention of possible delays is made between the two documents, something that is further suggesting that the initial order had been fully delivered. So, in this light, it seems that the Greek M34/39s were Greek copies of the Italian M34s and that their production was a complete, and not partial, work of the Kea stationed industrial unit.
So, my second question is: Are there any photos of pre-war, Italian made M34s, with Italian made liners and chinstraps? Could we possibly compare profiles and manufacturing details?
Regards,
Giorgos
I have been researching Greek WW2 helmets for some time now and I have some questions regarding the Italian M34 helmets. I would be really grateful for any assistance.
It is widely accepted among collectors that the shells of the Greek M34/39 helmets were produced in Italy, and after arriving in Greece unfinished, production, including painting and the fitting of liners and chinstraps, was completed locally. According to this scenario, not all of the ordered helmets arrived in Greece, due to the outbreak of the conflict between the two countries on October 28, 1940.
My first question is: Is there any archival evidence of this in Italy? Is there really evidence that a huge stock of rejected M34s was sold unfinished to Greece?
Although this is the most widely known story among collectors in Greece, it first appeared in some military history magazines about two decades ago. Due to the lack of archival sources, those contained several mistakes.
On the other hand, a relatively recent publication shows evidence that the truth might be different. The proceedings of the Greek Supreme Council of National Defense were found and published (K. Vlassis, "Οι Εξοπλισμοί της Ελλάδος 1936 - 1940, Doureios Ippos, Athens, 2013). They make mention of the competition for the "new" helmets between six Greek, German and Czech companies, unfortunately without stating the suggested helmet types or any possible prototype designs. However, it is clearly stated that after eleven months of repeated competitions and trials, the winner was a relatively small Greek industrial unit, based on the island of Kea, the "Greek Enamel and Metalworks Industry" of Ath. Konstas (Record No. 20, 14/12/1936, pages 104 - 107).
Two further interesting points are mentioned in the document. Among the winning company's terms is their request for the import of Swedish steel, and the evaluation commitee's report, stating that the aforementioned company can indeed handle the production of a helmet as a whole. With a contract of 250.000 units to be handed over to the Army General Depot of Pereaus in a timeframe of ten months, and an estimated monthly production of 50.000 units, it looks like the plan had been covered.
A later contract for 3.665 helmets for Royal Air Force ground personnel was accepted on 13/6/1940 (Record No. 67, page 440). Again, the contract is for complete helmets, with a possible import of steel from the US. No mention of possible delays is made between the two documents, something that is further suggesting that the initial order had been fully delivered. So, in this light, it seems that the Greek M34/39s were Greek copies of the Italian M34s and that their production was a complete, and not partial, work of the Kea stationed industrial unit.
So, my second question is: Are there any photos of pre-war, Italian made M34s, with Italian made liners and chinstraps? Could we possibly compare profiles and manufacturing details?
Regards,
Giorgos
Comment