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WW2 German helmet real or fake?

Featured Replies

#1

Hi all,

 

I was wondering if this Luftschutz helmet is real or fake? It has the number.

looks like someone may have tried to spray paint it, and the liner looks oddly newer, so wondering if these were reused later on after the war? Also, I can never be sure enough so many fakes! Let me know what you think.

 

IMG_5064.jpeg

IMG_5065.jpeg

IMG_5066.jpeg

IMG_5067.jpeg

IMG_5071.jpeg

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Solved by War in Pacific

#2

IMHO it is a replacement postwar liner. I do not like the rivets either

#3

I am sure the shell is fine. Very possibly could have been used post war. That style liner was used in West Germany. 

  • Author
#4
5 hours ago, daskrieg said:

IMHO it is a replacement postwar liner. I do not like the rivets either

 

3 hours ago, Marshallj said:

I am sure the shell is fine. Very possibly could have been used post war. That style liner was used in West Germany. 

I didn’t like the rivets either, could they have been installed post war as well? Thank you both. Seems like a Frankenstein helmet.

#5

Looks to me to be a WWI helmet. The brass keeper heads are what are used to connect the liner to outer shell. 

  • Author
#6
48 minutes ago, War in Pacific said:

Looks to me to be a WWI helmet. The brass keeper heads are what are used to connect the liner to outer shell. 

Hmm interesting, I’m not aware of any WWI era Luftshutz helmets that look like this one.

#7

Just tossing it out there. If it were German WWI helmets would have 2 large ventilation 'rivets' this on has smaller ventilation holes

 

I've not seen a German helmet configured like that. It definitely appears all German on the inside. I've heard of other European countries which have taken the German helmet & modified it.

 

Sorry for shooting from the hip like that. Hope I didn't create more grief than needed

 

I ran across this one which has the 2 sets of ventilation holes. This is a 1950s fireman's helmet

Screenshot_20250224-235706_Firefox.jpg.875d553fa0fd1157784de6a21035789d.jpg

Which what I've researched it is likely real. However it may be post war ('50s firemans helmet)

 

Will do more research to nail it down

Screenshot_20250224-235706_Firefox.jpg

Found an early helmet which Har the approximate shape but is lacking other features

 

The postwar with the venting holes comes closer

 

Screenshot_20250225-002019_Firefox.jpg

Screenshot_20250225-001645_Firefox.jpg

#8

Sorry for spouting off. Should have done more research before making a comment

  • Author
#9
17 hours ago, War in Pacific said:

Just tossing it out there. If it were German WWI helmets would have 2 large ventilation 'rivets' this on has smaller ventilation holes

 

I've not seen a German helmet configured like that. It definitely appears all German on the inside. I've heard of other European countries which have taken the German helmet & modified it.

 

Sorry for shooting from the hip like that. Hope I didn't create more grief than needed

 

I ran across this one which has the 2 sets of ventilation holes. This is a 1950s fireman's helmet

Screenshot_20250224-235706_Firefox.jpg.875d553fa0fd1157784de6a21035789d.jpg

Which what I've researched it is likely real. However it may be post war ('50s firemans helmet)

 

Will do more research to nail it down

Screenshot_20250224-235706_Firefox.jpg

Found an early helmet which Har the approximate shape but is lacking other features

 

The postwar with the venting holes comes closer

 

Screenshot_20250225-002019_Firefox.jpg

Screenshot_20250225-001645_Firefox.jpg

Thanks for the info! I guess most likely this helmet is a WWII shell, but was used postwar, as we all know how many helmets were repurposed after the war. I’m thinking the rivets may be postwar as well. The shell definitely looks authentic. It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole with German helmets! So many different variants.

  • Solution
#10

From what I'm seeing the brass 'rivets' are two legged fastners used to connect the aluminum liner (which connects the leather to the aluminum liner piece). I believe its an authentic German helmet.

They are consistent with my '42 Luftwaffe helmets fasteners. They are a made to be painted. What I'm seeing is consistent with WWII helmets. 20191224_195416.jpg.400976a7571641ceafebd4407edc042b.jpg

 

Notice to the left of the wing of Luftwaffes emblem is a fastener which has paint chipped off & is showing the head of the brass  

 

The last pic is what firemen were using circa Battle of Britain

Hope this helps


20191224_195504.jpg.e15472398819994f19a90ff0496ec9cc.jpg20250225_164422.jpg.cd4886a4c5537305bdda8f8e5bb31af2.jpg

  • Author
#11
16 hours ago, War in Pacific said:

From what I'm seeing the brass 'rivets' are two legged fastners used to connect the aluminum liner (which connects the leather to the aluminum liner piece). I believe its an authentic German helmet.

They are consistent with my '42 Luftwaffe helmets fasteners. They are a made to be painted. What I'm seeing is consistent with WWII helmets. 20191224_195416.jpg.400976a7571641ceafebd4407edc042b.jpg

 

Notice to the left of the wing of Luftwaffes emblem is a fastener which has paint chipped off & is showing the head of the brass  

 

The last pic is what firemen were using circa Battle of Britain

Hope this helps


20191224_195504.jpg.e15472398819994f19a90ff0496ec9cc.jpg20250225_164422.jpg.cd4886a4c5537305bdda8f8e5bb31af2.jpg

So the paint is worn off the rivets? That makes sense and very much does help. Thank you!

  • 2 weeks later...
#14

Glad I could help!

  • 1 month later...
#15

WW2 luftsuitz helmet

#16

As stated above it’s a repurposed WW2 helmet in use after the war. The liner which is post war and painted finish are the main indicators.

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