Unknown helmet needs identified.

[Theodor]

Inded it was inspired by the drivers' helmets /the firts driver's helmets appeared in WWI, in fact these were ordinary M-15 Adrians, but the front visors were removed and the helmets were used by the French tank crews/.
But it also has its hidden Nazi past there was a M41 common army helmet, intended to be introduced with the new army uniforms to the Vichy France army. But for one or another reason the M41 did not enter big scale production. The M45 is very much based on it, looks very very similar /maybe the liner is different?/. A picture of the M41 is in Marzetti' book, in fact I got the information from there.

[Blindpew]

Thanks again, I was checking out the spanish site and there is photos of a M35,(adrian like), M41 (totally silver) and the M45.(Theo posted) .
it's on this page,

http://www.cascoscoleccion.com/francia/fr45ja.htm

My Spanish is non exsistant though.I like the nazi past theory Interesting that the liner is similar to the British civic helmets,(boot-lace holding them in),but I suppose there is only so many ways to get a liner in a helmet....I'm starting to like this helmet more and more....

[Theodor]

Thats for the nazi past was a joke of course, IMHO the idea must have been from 1940 or even 1939 for such a helmet to replace the older M26, it was just a coinsidence for the production to start in 1941. Well, as said, just a theory

[ROBB]

I just love French helmets here are some of mine ,Rob.

[Edelweiss]

Very nice grouping, Rob !

The first and fourth from the right in particular are very interesting : congrats !

[Blindpew]

Nice helmets Rob,
Better give you a view of the best one I've got, alledgedly worn by British officers before the introduction of Broadies?........

[Peter_Suciu]

Some VERY nice helmets. I'd like one of those French tanker helmets. Can't ever seem to find a nice one.

[ROBB]

Thanks Chris .Nice helmet Blind ,perhaps we should post a few French helmets in the international section .Rob.

[Stephan Wahl]

Theo, your knowlage of world helmets never ceases to amaze me.

Looks to me like a M45 "Jeanne D'Ark" French driver's helmet.

Yes, yes, that must be it, here a cmplete one /with the front pad preserved/:

http://www.cascoscoleccion.com/francia/frfo45se.htm

[Theodor]

Thanks! Unfortunately I am far away from all the knowledge that would like to have, but where knowledge ends, the books come /so they usually come/ Forgot to mention sites too, they also give valuable information.

[Edelweiss]

This guy's too modest...

[Gerri Siemens]

nice helmets, Rob

Rob: Nice helmets. Could you give me some information about the helmet that is second from the left? Don't wanna show my ignorance by saying what I think it might be!!! Thanks.

[Edelweiss]

I will answer for Rob, if he doesn't mind ; from right to left you have :
- a M.15 "Chasseurs",
- a M.15 "Colonial Troops",
- a M.26 "Artillery",
- a M.35 tank helmet,
- a M.15 with what I believe to be a white painted polish insigna (?) ; but I can be wrong, can't really make out what it is frome here...

Happy this question was asked, I didn't notice before that the second helmet from right was a colonial one : even better !

PS : the M.35 and M.26 helmets show the early (WWI) helmet insignas.

[Gerri Siemens]

Another question, please. Why is the colonial troops helmet so different than the others??? Just curiousl

I will answer for Rob, if he doesn't mind ; from right to left you have :
- a M.15 "Chasseurs",
- a M.15 "Colonial Troops",
- a M.26 "Artillery",
- a M.35 tank helmet,
- a M.15 with what I believe to be a white painted polish insigna (?) ; but I can be wrong, can't really make out what it is frome here...

Happy this question was asked, I didn't notice before that the second helmet from right was a colonial one : even better !

PS : the M.35 and M.26 helmets show the early (WWI) helmet insignas.

[Edelweiss]

Dunno why, but I was quite sure you'd had another question, Gerri !

The helmet is not "so different than the others" ; in fact, it's exactly the same. But look at the tankers helmet's insigna : it's a flaming bomb (for the infantry) ; at first, I thought the second M.15 from the right had the same insigna, but if you look closely, you will see a part of an anchor below the flaming bomb : it's the insigna for the "Infanterie Coloniale" ("La Colo", as we say here).
A not that common helmet...