Famous Christmas photo from world war one

[Jan]

Gents,

I´m curious as about to this picture. It is suggested that it is cinnected with Christmas in the trenches in 1914. Happy for any comments!

Cheers Jan

[Paul D]

Not 1914 Jan as both sides were not wearing helmets until much later in the war , 1916 or later !!

[NickM]

Just out of interest, you mean they were all bare-headed? Or what else were they wearing? I can't think of any photo I've seen during the war when helmets of some sort weren't worn.
I could do with a bit of clarification here.

[Jan]

Thanks Paul! Looks like an original picture though (no acting?).

Cheers Jan

[Jan]

Yes NickM, this info from Paul E was new to me too.

Jan

[Paul D]

Just out of interest, you mean they were all bare-headed? Or what else were they wearing? I can't think of any photo I've seen during the war when helmets of some sort weren't worn.
I could do with a bit of clarification here.

No each side wore various items of Cloth Field headgear / caps !! The first German helmet was designated the M16 as that was the year is was brought into service as with the British Brodie Helmet !!

- - Updated - -

Yes NickM, this info from Paul E was new to me too.

Jan

Looks like it Jan !!

[Paul D]

The Steel Helmets were developed due to the large amount of head injury casualties as a result of the industrial nature of the first World war in particular Artillery !!

[stuka f]

First impression I had is it is a reenacting pic,as the bear headed guy his hair cut doesn't not feel like a WWI periode cut....
One would need to see the paper f the picture.

[Jan]

I´m amazed. This just shows how little I know about world war one ). Thanks alot PaulE!

Jan

... it´s back to the books

[HPL2008]

No each side wore various items of Cloth Field headgear / caps !!

...Or, in case of the German troops, spiked helmets (Pickelhauben).
(Which, of course, offered no ballistic protection to speak of.)