Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very good condition Imperial German Field Artillery enlisted man's Mannschaften (other ranks) pickelhaube, with Grand Duchy of Baden (Großherzogtum Baden) Wappen. The M1915 was the last model of Pickelhaube issued prior to the move to all steel helmets. In accordance with the 1915 regulations these helmets would no longer use brass, silver, or Tombak as the M1895 did. All issued Pickelhaube would now use grey oxidized steel fittings for all regiments.

This helmet features a oxidized steel frontplate (wappen) with the Crowned Heraldic Griffin clutching a sword and resting on the Baden state shield. Below this is the Grand Duchy's motto: MIT GOTT F. FUERST U. VATERLAND (With God for Prince, or Grand Duke, and Fatherland). The crown of this leather helmet displays a vented enlisted removable ball (kugel) mounted on a steel baseplate. The ball is in very good condition, and is removable using the "bayonet-style" attaching system, but takes some pressure to do so. The vent on the rear spine moves relatively easily. It should be noted that the pieces of leather that attach the wappen to the helmet are original and in great shape. The shell of the pickelhaube has retains its shape incredibly well, which we don’t often see.

The helmet is missing both of the cockades, as well as the chinstrap.

The interior features the extremely worn and tattered original leather liner, which is in rough condition. It is missing several fingers and is still actively tearing a bit. A very well-worn example for sure. Some of the stitching for the rear visor is worn away. The helmet is marked 56 on the interior, the size, and there is an inscription reading:

J.R. 111
1916

This would denote the 111th German Infantry Regiment, so the top mount likely had a spike originally. There is a maker’s cartouche close by which is too worn to read, along with a later inscription by someone in New Haven, Connecticut in 1932. This helmet was certainly a soldier bringback at the end of WWI.

A truly gorgeous helmet, ready for further research and display.

The Pickelhaube-
Germany’s Pickelhaube helmet, distinguished by a lone spike jutting straight from its top, became a symbol of Prussian militarism in the early 20th century. Introduced by the Prussian military in 1843, the Pickelhaube was originally proposed for use by cavalry troops. The helmets, made of pressed leather, were developed as an updated solution to the conical shako hats worn by Prussians during the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleonic-era shakos offered virtually no head protection and were cumbersome to wear in wet conditions, as they easily soaked up rain. The Pickelhaube, therefore, was greeted as a practical modern invention. The new “leather helmets” or “helmets with spikes” gave soldiers’ greater head covering and visibility.

The distinctive spike on the Pickelhaube was supposed to function as a blade tip. It was designed to deflect sword blows aimed at the head. The spikes could be modified depending on soldiers’ battlefield duties and outfitted with plumes on formal occasions.