Original Item. Only One Available. This is an extremely rare German World War One Model M16 'Square Dip' helmet. This is thought to be the very first version of the WW1 German Stalhelm, replacing the pickelhaube's on the German front line. Only approximately 30,000 are thought to have been produced. A Flaw was identified where many of the 'dips' fractured at the point of dipping into the outer skirt, so the helmet was modified to the standard version where the dip is at a flatter angle.

This is the first example of the fabled “Square Dip” that we have ever offered! This example, which is likely an ET 62 or ET 64, is in relic condition, likely having been ground dug in recent years. The helmet has very serious shrapnel damage, with a very large hole at the front with cracks leading to the visor, and one very small hole over the rear liner pin hole. The helmet retains the two front pins, but the rear pin is gone. 

The helmet still has both the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, which hold the interior pickelhaube style chin strap lugs in place. Both end pieces of the original chinstrap are retained, along with a very short fragment of the original leather! It also retains both of the extended ventilation side lugs, which are the correct stepped version for the smaller sizes, 60, 62, and 64. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size.

There are no stamped markings remaining due to the heavy oxidation, but as this is a Square Dip, it only could have been manufactured by Eisenhüttenwerke Thale A.G., in Thale /Harz. This company made shells in sizes 60 - 68 for the war effort.

An excellent relic example of a Square Dip, the very first example we have had. Ready for 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.