DAK Tropenhelm

**R.R** · 03-11-2011, 11:58 PM

It arrived today, DAK pith helmet olive green by JHC:

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 03-11-2011 11:58 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Jerry B** · 03-12-2011, 08:46 AM

Thats a good condition, un-issued 2nd pattern Heer tropenhelm. I notice its by JHS rather than JHC as you posted. It's always good to see these early dated examples, 1941, whilst many 1st patterns you see are dated 1942, though KM examples are often dated 1940.

Thanks for showing it.

Jerry

**Tim OKeefe** · 03-12-2011, 08:47 AM

Hi Ricardo

Nice second pattern tropenhelm. And an early one at that. Appears un-issued from the lack of wear on the sweatband etc. Still a nice example. Jerry beat me to it, well done Jerry.

Would hesitate to call this type a DAK type though. A very few were found in Tunisia at the surrender, which can be seen in the piles of captured equipment but have not seen any actual photographic evidence of them being worn by the DAK. The DAK was only a very small Kampfgruppe of the 5th Pz Army in Tunisia, having been nearly destroyed at Alamein. Most of these were used in Italy, Russia, France and the Sud Front.

**R.R** · 03-12-2011, 11:05 AM

Hi Jerry and Tim,

I have these two pictures from this one in use, sources affirmated both are taked in Africa, there is a third one but I don't have it.

Thanks and Regards,

Ricardo

**Tim OKeefe** · 03-12-2011, 11:14 AM

Hi Ricardo

The first photo is from Italy for sure. Not sure of the second, but the soldat does not appear to be a member of the DAK either. Notice second pattern tunic...nice photo though.

**Tim OKeefe** · 03-12-2011, 11:26 AM

Hi Ricardo

The first photo is from Italy in '43. Not sure of second photo but does not appear to be a DAK soldat. Notice second pattern tunic.... the DAK wore first patterns. Nice photo though and it may be spring in Tunisia '43.

kind regards
Tim

**R.R** · 03-12-2011, 11:38 AM

Here is another picture but I'm not sure if it's a felt version:

**Jerry B** · 03-12-2011, 11:42 AM

Agree with Tim that the first pic is in Italy, not Afrika.

Heres one thats on ebay at the moment, looks like a 2nd pattern, but don't know where it was taken. Again, he has a 2nd pattern tunic, so not Dak, but might be Afrika or Italy etc...

**Tim OKeefe** · 03-12-2011, 12:01 PM

Referring to post # 9, this photo is from before Alamein, as Rommel is wearing his custom tunic. During Alamein he wore the standard first pattern tunic. Do to his early recall he did not have his custom tunic available and had to use a converted first pattern. The second pattern tropenhelm first appeared in Afrika in Tunisia with reinforcments/replacements not the DAK veterans. In this pic the shape looks like a first pattern sun-helmet (more square, not round dome) from this photo.

Next photo (post #11) is an olive first pattern, can see the seems on this one. Great photo though !

**Jerry B** · 03-12-2011, 01:04 PM

by Tim OKeefe

Referring to post # 9, this photo is from before Alamein, as Rommel is wearing his custom tunic. During Alamein he wore the standard first pattern tunic. Do to his early recall he did not have his custom tunic available and had to use a converted first pattern. The second pattern tropenhelm first appeared in Afrika in Tunisia with reinforcments/replacements not the DAK veterans. In this pic the shape looks like a first pattern sun-helmet (more square, not round dome) from this photo.

Next photo (post #11) is an olive first pattern, can see the seems on this one. Great photo though !

I'll take your word for the example in #11 having seams, but I can't see them and the shape is right for a 2nd pattern.

Picture #12 is a great pic, but the shape is wrong for a 2nd pattern, must be a green 1st pattern, like mine.

Jerry