Do you think this is a KIA helmet?

[Ty Smith]

You think he was a KIA?
Named to a Captain (right?) Hptm. ?
His name scratched out. Has a bullet/shrapnel ding on the back otherwise a mint early M-35 Double decal Army. Pictures attached.

[Ty Smith]

KIA Helmet

Another Picture .. ..

[Matt M]

Ty

Hard to tell, if the round/shrap did not penetrate the shell or knock a small piece of the helmet loose (that could always go into your skull) I doubt if that killed him.
Of course he could have died numerous different ways.

I think when you see a name scratched out it means the original owner no longer needs the helmet......I do not think that is a good sign.

Nice DD Army

Matt

[Dave Kane]

Yes, the romantic in us!!! The head wounds that I have seen have been 'gushers'!!! The head bleeds profusely and at once...The more possible story is that some 'good 'ol boy' wanted to see how far a '06' could could gor through a $5. helmet!!

[Ty Smith]

KIA Helmet

I know what you mean.. I have picked up a bunch of "KIA" helmets that had something like 8 bullet holes, no blood stains? These good 'ol boys needed a war story when they brought these helmets home to their little brothers.

I was more referring to how the name was scratched off, but not the rank? Kind of thought that was strange.

As a side note, a 30.06 puts a nice hole, in and back out, but a .45 at 15 yards away puts a big dent in a Q M-40.

[Luftm40]

Kind of a crappy picture, but here is a dent in a vet acquired M38. I think it was made by a .45...either a pistol or Thompson. Looks about the right size.

[Larry Marcella]

Here is one even better. Thank God they missed the rivet and vent rivet. Notice the two bullet dents, and on a Allgemeine SS.
The helmet God was watching over this one.
Larry

[Stephan Wahl]

That's an intense helmet there (Allgemeine). I like helmets with character. I didn't think that Allgemeine black was worn into the field. My grandfather (SS Totenkopf Oberbayern, 3rd div. (1937 to Sept. 17th 1941)) told me they all painted their helmets from black to feldgrau in 1939. Although I have a peagreen M35 SS helmet that saw most of the war, because it has wire camo on it and is quite salty. (I have pictures posted on a couple of the SS camo forums) Did they keep the helmets black for Poland? Maybe France too? I suppose I could ask my grandfather, but he doesn't understand my fascination with helmets. To him it was just a pot that protected his head.

[Ty Smith]

Wow - this is an old thread.
Stephan, Do you have any photos of your helmets you can share. Many have never seen or owned a real camo SS.

Here is one of my double decals that was liberated from Dachau from a US Colonel.

It is named to St. Stm. Otto Rasinger 8 Kp 1 SS TV Oberb

I'm not up to speed on all the SS divisions but I thought the Oberbbayern was the 1st.

Here are some pics,

[Ty Smith]

left side ..


This has been reissued.

[Ty Smith]

Liner inscription. ..

[Ty Smith]

ditigially enhanced "TV Ober"

[Ty Smith]

Another ..

[Stephan Wahl]

Oberbayern

Oberbayern was turned into the 3rd Inf. Div. sometime around Barbarossa. I'd have to see an exact time line of it, but I'm pretty sure because my grandfather was a mortar operator in the SSTK Oberbayern. 1937-late Sept. 1941. (wounded) Lushno, Russia. My brother is the "whipsaw" on that. He knows all those details.


I saw that helmet of yours on another forum (copy, save file as...) That is simply increadible. I thought about asking my grandfather if he knew the guy, but it's so far appart from when he was wounded that the chances would just be minimal. +, he gets really denially (denially - rootward denial) about Dachau, the death camp, when we talk to him about it. It seems everybody in Dachau does. He still has friends in Dachau whom I've visited with him and my Oma. I've told Thomas Kibler this; I've been swimming in the little man made lake there as a teenager 1986-7. Thomas has a veteran that lives there too. Unfortunately, they do not know eachother I don't believe.


Ty, I've got my wire Camo SS up on a forum. Just search "Wire Camo SS Helmet". It'll be posted yesterday. I'm waiting for Elvis to post a better shot of the decal, maybe you can help.

CC: Ty Private Message

[Stephan Wahl]

Not all Black SS Helmets Allgemeine

Larry. Correct me if I'm wrong here Ty, but I wouldn't be so quick to assume that black SS helmet is an Allgemeine SS piece. She looks like a matt finished M35. All SS Divisions wore black before the war started. Additionally, what is a parade helmet doing getting worn into combat. Allgemeine folks only did parades and such. There is a disticntion that I think a lot of helmet collectors are failing to make. Either way, you have a great piece there, but check the finish. She must be, by war standards, shiney to be Allgemeine.