Saw this at the SOS; Experimental German WW1 helmet

[ErichK]

I took these photos at the SOS because I remember seeing a similar example described as a WW1 German experimental helmet. In any case I thought it might be of interest here.

[lach470]

experimental? Looks more medieval to me! I've never seen anything like this before. Would love to hear more about it - this is a first for me.

Rob

[lach470]

Is that 3900 the price??? OMG....I would be walking away and putting that kind of cash on a DD M35 heer or perhaps an SS rather than going with this "thing".

Rob

[SteveR]

Those are very rare. There were only 1500 of them made in 1915 for Army Groupe Gaed at the artillery workshop of the Army Group in Mulhousen overseen by an Oberstleutnant Hesse ( no connection to the nazi ). A real prize for a WWI Helmet collector.
Thanks for showing.
SteveR

[Bill T]

$3900?? wow. Doesnt look like an infantrymans helmet. It has to be some sort of specialists helmet I would think.?? thats the oddest helmet ive ever seen, thats for sure. Looks like a Rhino helmet with that "point" sticking out. haha
thanks for posting this oddity

woops, Steve posted before I read his post

[lach470]

Steve - can you give us more info on this helmet? I can't understand the idea behind the shape of it. What was its purpose? Great to learn about something like this.

Rob

[HPL2008]

Some more info on those Gaede helmets:

Axis History Forum • View topic - Gaede Helmet
Trenches on the Web - Special: The German Stahlhelm, M1916
Funny Helmet German? - Landships WW1 Forum
Gaede
La gran guerra. Foro sobre todo lo relacionado con la primera guerra mundial. :: El casco de acero "Gaede"
(The latter site is in Spanish, which I don't a speak, but it has some good images.)

Also of interest is post # 14 here:
https://www.warrelics.eu/forum/imper...-know-10632-2/

[ErichK]

Considering the rarity of this helmet I thought the price of $3900.00 was a bargain for the serious WW1 German helmet collector. M35 DD's are available at any time, not even hard to find. If you were to try and find another one of these you could search for 20 years and not see another example

[Glenn66]

Looks like an Armadillo crawled onto someones head and died!

[lach470]

Thanks for the links to the extra info! I had never heard of this helmet before. I have to say that it is far from "attractive"...but I also realize that its looks were not part of its purpose. To each his own I guess....I would still go for a DD heer or SS lid - but it all comes down to personal preference!
Cheers!
Rob