Help Needed On Italian SS Helmet

[BlackBelt]

I have a bit of a situation, and I need some help to resolve an issue:

On Thursday of last week an adopted aunt on my fathers side sent me some WWII Italian items that belonged to her father during the war. Of particular interest was a helmet she sent me.

The helmet appears to be a standard M33 Italian helmet in an apple green color, and remnants of what looks like possible tropical paint. The helmet has no insignia, but is 100% intact. A bit salty, but all there. I was cleaning the helmet, when I saw written in black ink (possible fountain pen):

"SS- 29 I"

The inscription after the "I" is completely gone, so I am not sure whats after it. I assume it could be the full name of the 29th Italian-SS Division. After seeing this, my heart started pounding so hard I almost fell over. There are no remnants of any decals, or painted SS insginia in anyway. The front of the helmet has what looks like a small half square welded on, that may have held a plum, or other insignia. Very small, approx 5mm at most.

I called my adopted aunt and asked her if her father served in the Waffen-SS at any point during the war. She said that her father faught in North Africa, and was stationed in Greece not long after. She was a bit hesitant, and did say he served with the Germans in 1944-45. He was involved in fighting in Lake Como, Italy. I do have photos of him in uniform, but no SS insignia. After the war, he was used by the Allies to gaurd German POW's ironicly enough.

I guess my questions after this long background are as follows:

1. Does anyone have, or know how often the Italian-SS helmets had SS insignia on them when issued vs, those that did not?

2. What exactly is the weld in the front used for, or could it have been applied during or after the war?

3. Anyone have any good shots of an actuall Waffen-SS Italian soldier wearing the type of helmet in question?

I am sorry but I am at work, but I will post photos tonight for examination. Any help up to this point would be greatly appreciated! I am also going to post this on the main SS board too.

[ROBB]

The ones with the bit welded on the front are I believe Albanian or Greek ,does it have a web strap or a leather one ? Rob

[BlackBelt]

The ones with the bit welded on the front are I believe Albanian or Greek ,does it have a web strap or a leather one ? Rob

It has an all leather liner and strap. Why would an Italian soldier have an Albanian or Greek helmet? This gets weirder and weirder. I can understand war shortages, but would the Waffen-SS allow a soldier to wear a greek helmet while serving in the 29th Division? I do know this for sure:

1. The helmet has been in the famlies possesion since the end of the war.
2. The soldier just died about a year ago who wore it.
3. I do have photos of the man in question serving in the Italian Army WW2
4. The helmet has not been altered since the war ended, and was not played with by any children etc.

It has been in storage at the famly house in Avellino, Italy since 1949.

[ROBB]

Does the strap look like this or is it thin? Rob.

[flashider]

Hi Blackbelt,
If you post photos is better

[BlackBelt]

Does the strap look like this or is it thin? Rob.

The liner and strap are the same, however there is no tie to keep the flaps together on the liner top..

[BlackBelt]

Hi Blackbelt,
If you post photos is better

I am going to try and get to it tonight, or earl tommarrow at the latest. I have some family obligations tonight, so depends on the time. Thanks thus far for any information, I do appreciate it.

[luftwaffenkopf]

The ones with the bit welded on the front are I believe Albanian or Greek ,does it have a web strap or a leather one ? Rob

about this weld you speak of, could it be a sign that this M33 was used by the Spanish fascists during the Civil War to hold the metal eagle with red cross emblem on the front? i think this could be another explanation. i have an M33 with just such a weld on the front, leather liner and thick leather chinstrap, no rivets on tips of liner fingers, just all leather, a sign of WWII or pre WWII production i believe...

[ROBB]

Could be Spanish I didnt think of them , I would like to know for future refrence ,they are often availiable on ebay but are usually a bit tatty and very rarely attract much interest.Hopefully Blackbelt can post some photos .Rob

[BlackBelt]

Here are some photos. I hope it shows correctly, I was only able to use the thumbnail for some reason, So just click on the photo for a larger view. If there is any problem, I may need some assistance. I thought about the Spanish issued helmets, and I am posative that many such helmets were used by the Italians during the war, so that is certainly a possibility.

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[BlackBelt]

Here are three more shots. The first shot is of the writing on the liner. It is hard to see, but it reads, "SS- 29 1" or "SS-29 I". Its impossible to tell if the last legiable part is an #1 or the letter I. The second shot is more like what it looks like without playing with the light. The third photo is the man himself, Giuseppe Barletta. He served in the Italian Army during WW2, then with the Waffen-SS 29th Italian voulenteers until the end of the war. He was captured by Allied forces, and was used as a prison gaurd for captured Germans. He was released by the Allies in 1949 where he returned to his home in Avelino, Italy. While with the Italian Army he fought in North Africa, and was stationed for a short time in Greece. With the Waffen-SS he faught in the Lake Como area. That is all I know at this point from my family, but I am still digging. I can tell you this, my extended family was not happy when he joined the Waffen-SS. Apparently when he came home after the war, he would never speak of his service when it came to the German portion, but was proud of his service with the Italian Army. Certainly not untypical, but it was a sore spot with his wife, and children.

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[flashider]

Is it brown the color over the green-grey pre-war color?

[BlackBelt]

Is it brown the color over the green-grey pre-war color?

Yes, its almost a sand tan, or very muted brown color. Most of the shell has the base green color, with what looks like camo effect on the portions of the shell. Of course this could also be the paint deteriozation pattern. There are several spots on the shell where all paint is gone, so you can see the exposed metal.

[flashider]

IMO it's an helmet used by the italians during the spanish war or issued by the Spanish forces after the civil war....

Could be possible that Giuseppe fought in Spain and after this war he stored the helmet in his house....After many years he used this helmet in the Italian civil war.
But I don't believe in this crazy story that I'm writing because if he was a POW after '45 the US soldiers or guards don't permitted to own an helmet in the camp....but it's the only logical answer that I can suppose if the writing is a period made


The best solutions to me is to say that Giuseppe made the writing after the war when he was released by the allies.

Excuse for my poor english....

[ROBB]

http://cgi.ebay.com/W-W-2-ITALIAN-HE...QQcmdZViewItem

Here is another always the same colour and usually tatty , Rob.