The British "Tommy" helmet fared the worst. However, the Wehrmacht's own M35 also was found to have serious shortcomings. Finding none of the helmets in current use by the different armies of the world to be satisfactory, the Reich Institute undertook steps to design an all together new helmet with the ballistic characteristics sought after. Several prototype helmets for testing were produced by the Völkingen Stahlwerke. Upon completion of the tests in 1942, the results were provided to the Army Weapons Office.
Despite objections by Hitler, this office, under the auspices of a memoranda generated by the Army Medical Inspectorate, went ahead and authorized production of a new pattern combat helmet. The passing of the memorandum was due in part to increasing pressure on the Army Weapons Office to find a solution to the ever increasing number of serious head wounds received by wearers of the M35 and the M42; and to encompass design changes that would address the increasingly scarce supply of necessary materials and labor required for production of the current M35/42 helmet. The M35/42 models were both very expensive to produce, and labor intensive.
Subsequently, a total of four prototypes were designed, which were designated A, B, BII, and C. The latter 3 represented major departures from the M35/42 design. After preliminary testing, models B and BII were approved for further testing. Orders were then placed with the Eisen und Hüttenwerke for production of no less than 50 examples of each type.
They were referred to as the Thale/Harz helmets after their designers. The Helmets were then sent to the Doeblitz Infantry School outside of Berlin, where they were then put through rigorous 'Hands-on' testing in a true field environment with Infantry Units at the school. The helmets subsequently proved to be of sound design for wear and use, and were far superior in ballistics to any helmet then made. It was only then that Hitler was approached with the final results of the research program that had gone on for several years without his knowledge. Both helmet designs, B and BII were presented to him in the autumn of 1944 for his approval of one or the other. The new helmet was to be designated the M45. Remarkably, Hitler took no action against anyone for the tests that had gone on behind his back. He did however reject both helmets, doing so on the principle that the current M35/42, in his eyes, best exemplified the German Soldier. His decision was based entirely on his own perception of how countries with whom the Wehrmacht was at war viewed the German Soldier in Uniform. He felt the M35/42 best exemplified that look.
Not surprisingly, memoirs recorded in diaries of some Soviet soldiers suggest the new helmets given to the Infantry School on the outskirts of Berlin for testing, received their baptism of fire when Soviet Forces first entered the Berlin Capital in the Spring of 1945. Reportedly, Russian Troops encountered two Infantry Companies from the Doeblitz Infantry School. The Dresden Museum has, in its NVA Display, an example of a model BII Stahlhelm, believed to be a survivor of the last ditch effort by the Wehrmacht against the Russians, as they unsuccessfully strove to fend off the invaders as they entered Berlin.
After the division of the two German states, and the designation of East Germany as a separate country in 1949, a seemingly new type helmet already had appeared, which was worn in limited numbers by the Barracks Police, or KVP. It actually was based upon the model A Stahlhelm and therefore resembled the M35/42. It, together with the Khaki type uniform then worn by the KVP, proved to be problematic with the East German Populace, who found it too closely resembled the uniform of the hated Soviet Military.
Consequently in 1956, with the transformation of the KVP into the new Nationale Volksarmee (NVA), the newly established NVA Rear-Services Administration and Office of Technology was ordered to develop a new helmet deemed suitable for the East German 'Socialist' Armed Forces. It could not have physical characteristics associated with either the Wehrmacht M35/42 or the Russian helmet. Consequently, the Model A helmet then being worn by the KVP was rejected. Yet the helmet still needed to project the 'National' character of East Germany.
It suddenly dawned on all that the helmet in question had already been designed, and tested. And, the factory for producing the helmet already existed, with all the necessary tools and dies. It just so happened that the Head Engineer appointed to and tasked with the development of the new NVA helmet was Erich Kiesen. Ironically, he had been affiliated with Eisen und Hüttenwerke, which had produced the model B and BII helmets formerly approved by the Wehrmacht Army Weapons Office, but rejected by Hitler.
Hitler's rejection now proved paramount and profound, because it paved the way for acceptance of that helmet without connotations of it being associated with the 'Fascist' Wehrmacht army. Better yet, no monies were necessary for research, design and/or testing. The helmet had already been designed, researched and tested thoroughly, and had passed with flying colors on all accounts. Even better was the fact that Ingenieur Kiesen was the holder of former patents for an improved helmet liner with a new 'Y'-type chin-strap and ventilation bushings meant for the M35/42, but never implemented.
With modifications, the Model B and BII could be quickly fitted with that liner. But most prophetic of all, was the good fortune that the factory in question was completely intact and located on East German soil. The BII subsequently was selected for production over the model B. So it was that production of the model BII was resumed in January 1956. The new helmet was introduced to the East German Public via photographs published that February in a magazine for the German Youth, or FDJ. The new helmet was officially introduced at the introduction ceremony of the NVA on May 1st, in Berlin. It was painted in a 'Stone Grey' matte and bore a Tri-color Shield on one side in Black, Red and Gold.
Eventually, under the direction of Gen. Willi Stoph, the helmet went through more rigorous testing, resulting in superficial design modifications over the passing years - the removal of the 'Rivets' being one of the later design modification improvements. In principle, however, the helmet was found to be superior to anything then being fielded by any army anywhere. Not until the advent of the Kevlar Helmet by the U.S. Military, did a helmet surpass the ballistic qualities endowed to the NVA Stahlhelm, officially designated the M-1956. In 1957 the helmet entered production in earnest in three sizes (60m, 64m and 68m). By September of that same year, 50,000 helmets had been produced and issued to NVA Troops. By years end, all NVA Troops had the helmet. The entire process, development to production and issue, was accomplished in a single year. Also in 1957, the first 'Resin' or plastic NVA helmets were produced for issue to and wear by special elite or honor guard troops.
It should be noted that the first production helmets had a liner similar to the M-42, but were configured with a double-'Y' chin-strap. Consequently, any NVA Stahlhelm found to be configured with an M-42 type liner and the single type adjustable chinstrap, could very well be an example of a model B or BII produced during the era of the Wehrmacht. The 'Rivets', of course, should be found to be positioned lower on the helmet than on subsequent 1956 production models.
M-56 NVA
Early in WW1, The Germans like other countries, went into battle as soldiers did from other War's with no helmet, but a cap or nothing at all. In 1914 German Soldiers used their Pickelhaube, This was not a Seel Helmet, But an All Leather Helmet, which look good in the field, But did nothing to stop head injury'.
The Germans as the Allied Army's experienced without proper head protection had many deaths or serious head injury's caused by bullet, Artillery fragments / Bomb fragments. So In 1916 the Germans produced a modern Combat helmet that offered excellent head protection, This was the M16 of ww1 fame.
Actual Field Test conducted on new helmet in trial tests in 1943-44.
Notice marked areas with an X or Circled area, shows how Bullet was deflected by position of helmet.
This was the most modern helmet design up to the creation of Kevlar Helmets. Again Germany was ahead of the rest of the world, In 1916 they had the most modern helmet that offered best head protection, changed it to the M-35, M-40, M-42. After the War created the Wartime helmet we know as the DDR/NVA M-56.
Can I know where do you find this last photograph and if there were more of that helmet?
ReplyDeleteThe last photo of the new helmet was taken from an old 1959 DDR Magazine celebrating the DDR/NVA in power for 10 years., Very hard too find the magazine. alot of photo's of KVP with MP44's and Mauser Rifles and Russian PPSH-41. I have of of these Rare KVP/NVA Stahlhelms with the M42 style liner, made in 1959 inside of helmet marked ll
ReplyDeletel
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Outstanding article... been a modeler and historian of WW2 Germany much of my life. My interest in the history of the NVA helmet was renewed while putting costumes together for my gun toting extras for a cold war film I shot last year. Another article talked briefly about the BII.. That led me here. Vielen Dank!
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