Pic of Czech helmet with German Police or SS decals

[zbv500]

Hi Gents,

I wanna share this pic with you Guys. This pic is one out of little group from 20 Pics. These Pics are showing members of the Police and later the same Persons in SS Uniforms. There are some very nice shoots on which the guys were SS Uniforms which have the big Police eagle attached under the arm eagle. I will post these later on the SS Forum.

This Pic shows one of these Guys with i believe some sort of Police Uniform. The intesting thing is the helmet. I think its a Czech helmet ? right ? Unfortunality only the right side of the helmet is visible. You can see the Swastika there. I think the other side show the Police eagle, but could also be SS.

For me its good to see provenance of these type of helmet with decal.

What do you guys think ?

[zbv500]

Oh, i forgot. For the theory that the other decal is SS. He wore an SS Buckle !!!!!!!!!! I can see it with my glass.

[R_Bell]

What was left of Czechslovakia after annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 became known as Slovakia. The small Slovak army fought along side the Germans in the invasion of Poland and later in Russia. Below is an example of the Slovak helmet with what is left of a Heer decal. This particular helmet was de-nazified, probably immediately after 1945.

[RobertE]

[QUOTE=R_Bell]What was left of Czechslovakia after annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 became known as Slovakia. The small Slovak army fought along side the Germans in the invasion of Poland and later in Russia. Below is an example of the Slovak helmet with what is left of a Heer decal. This particular helmet was de-nazified, probably immediately after 1945.

I have an excellent condition CZ helmet with German Army rough green paint, and a 95 percent (Army) decal. The helmets in my household goods, but I have a picture of it in my "don't forget what I've got" album, which I'll try to dig out.

]

[R_Bell]

I'd love to see it. Please post a pic when you can. Because of the symmetry of the Slovak helmet, I can't tell if the Heer decal was worn on the right side or the left. My guess is the right. Any thoughts?

[stoneagegixer]

R_Bell]What was left of Czechslovakia after annexation of the Sudetenland in 1938 became known as Slovakia.

Annexation of the Sudetenland and the separation of Slovakia are two different events. Sudetenland should not be mistaken with Bohemia or the Czech Republic. Sudetenland is a strip of land on the border of Czech Rep and Germany. When Germany annexed it it captured the Western defence line of Czechoslovakia, rendering it defenceless. Soon after that Czechoslovakia was sold out by the British (Chamberlain-with his "peace in our time document") when they told the Czechs no one will aid them if the Germans attack.
Germans then occupied Bohemia which then turned into something similar to Vichy France. Slovakia was smart to realize that it's better to join the axis and retain some independence rather then oppose.

[RobertE]

I apologize in advance for the lousy pics, but these are taken from a picture in my album; the helmets in with my shipment. It has dark army green (Wehrmacht) paint, with a rough finish.

[RobertE]

decal pic -

[R_Bell]

Robert -

Thanks for the pics. My question about decal placement is now answered. It's on the left...Hard to tell with these Czech lids.

REX

[Peter_Suciu]

Thanks for the pics. My question about decal placement is now answered. It's on the left...Hard to tell with these Czech lids.

The rear of the helmet has a rivet in the middle. That's how you tell front from back. Hence the soldier in the photo has the helmet on backwards! Possible the decals were put on wrong but generally the Czech helmets have that rivet in the rear.

Here is my Slovakian helmet:

[Peter_Suciu]

Close up of the cross.

[R_Bell]

Thanks for the tip about the rivet being in the back. If the Czech soldier pictured above is confused about how to wear his helmet (and it appears that he is), I don't feel so bad!

[Blindpew]

The rear of the helmet has a rivet in the middle. That's how you tell front from back. Hence the soldier in the photo has the helmet on backwards! Possible the decals were put on wrong but generally the Czech helmets have that rivet in the rear.

Here is my Slovakian helmet:

Could I have a photo of the interior please? I'm a little confused now, as I thought the period photo looked correct, but then I was going by Ludwig Baer HOGSH 1916-1945. On page 292, it shows a czech M32 reissued, the rivet is clearly to the front, there is a Luftschutz decal above.
Perhaps they "relinered" the helmets, so that they were back to front?

[Blindpew]

The way the liner is made, it seems sensible to wear the single pad at the front, having the pads at either side of the forehead doesn't seem right.I would have to say that the rivet is to the front, and not the rear.
I found a couple of period photos of czech lids in use, although one is possibly late 40's.

[Blindpew]

the late 40s? one,