Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of an original WWI German M16 Helmet shell, with the standard dark green field gray paint. It looks to have been repainted at some point during the war, and then reissued, so it has a very interesting paint texture. The stamped, sheet steel construction, helmet retains about 75% of its original paint, and has a great service worn look.

As this helmet is the later M18 version, it does not have any liner rivets or lugs attached to the shell. This later pattern used a chin strap attached directly to the liner band, greatly improving the chin strap system. It also retains both of the extended ventilation side lugs, which are the correct long version with a step for the smaller size 64 shell. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size.

At some point after the war, the liner on this helmet was replaced, however this was definitely done long ago, as the liner shows extensive wear. It is possible that it was in service with the Reichswehr during the Interwar period, but there is no way to verify this. The liner band looks to be original, and is the correct steel. It is held in place by the correct split pins, with the thicker rear pin. There is also a chin strap attached to the bales on the liner band, but it is also a replacement, now quite old.

The shell is stamped E.T.64 indicating that Eisenhuettenwerke Thale A.G., in Thale /Harz manufactured it. The marking is hard to read due to multiple layers of paint. This company made shells all sizes 60-68 for the war effort. Size 64 is a medium size that can accommodate liners from 56cm to 58cm or US 7 to 7 1/8.  Unfortunately due to the large amount of paint on the helmet shell, we cannot see any trace of the rolling mill stamping.

This lovely M18 helmet with a post war liner makes an eye catching addition to any Great War collection. Ready to display!

History of the M16 Helmet

The Stahlhelm was introduced into regular service during the Verdun campaign in early 1916.

The M1916 design had side-mounted horn-like ventilator lugs which were intended to be support for an additional steel brow plate or Stirnpanzer, which only ever saw limited use by snipers and trench raiding parties, as it was too heavy for general use.

The shell came in different sizes, from 60 to 68, with some size 70s reported. The suspension, or liner, consisted of a headband with three segmented leather pouches, each holding padding materials, and leather or fabric cords could be adjusted to provide a comfortable fit. The one-piece leather chinstrap was attached to the shell by M1891 chinstrap lugs, the same kind used in the Pickelhaube helmet.

The M1916 design provided excellent protection: Reserve Lieutenant Walter Schulze of 8th Company Reserve Infantry Regiment 76 described his combat introduction to the helmet on the Somme, 29 July 1916:

"... suddenly, with a great clanging thud, I was hit on the forehead and knocked flying onto the floor of the trench... a shrapnel bullet had hit my helmet with great violence, without piercing it, but sufficiently hard to dent it. If I had, as had been usual up until a few days previously, been wearing a cap, then the Regiment would have had one more man killed."

But the helmet was not without its flaws. The ventilator horns often let cold air in during the winter, requiring the wearer to block the vents with mud or fabric. The large, flared skirt tended to make it difficult for soldiers to hear, distorting surrounding sounds and creating an echo when the wearer spoke.

Originally painted Feldgrau (field grey), the Stahlhelm was often camouflaged by troops in the field using mud, foliage, cloth covers, and paint. Official issue cloth covers in white and grey appeared in late 1916 and early 1917. Camouflage paint was not formally introduced until July 1918, when German Army Order II, No 91 366, signed by General Erich Ludendorff on 7 July 1918, outlined official standards for helmet camouflage. The order stipulated that helmets should be painted in several colors, separated by a finger-wide black line. The colors should be relevant to the season, such as using green, brown and ocher in summer.

After the effectiveness of the M1916 design was validated during the 1916 campaigns, incremental improvements were subsequently made.