grave marker helmets

**LAS VEGAS** · 02-19-2010, 10:37 AM

anyone know if the helmets which marked graves where just left there to rust after the units which burried the soldier left.?back in germany as u know many wore french and russian helmets with a nazi emblem,so german helmets where scarce

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 02-19-2010 10:37 AM

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**Adrian Stevenson** · 02-19-2010, 10:49 AM

Some were certainly left in place to later get taken as souvenirs by Allied troops. I have seen a couple of souvenired ones, evidenced by holes in the crown where they were once secured to the grave marker.

Cheers, Ade.

**Gary J** · 02-19-2010, 10:59 AM

As Ade knows, the British Para helmets from Arnhem field graves remained until the bodies were reinterred in the Airborne Cemetery at Oosterbeek.

I gather the Dutch left them be until they were officially given their final resting place ...

Only then were some were saved by the locals.

Gary J.

**LAS VEGAS** · 02-19-2010, 11:01 AM

interesting they where nailed to the grave marker ,.i would have thought with the shortages the germans exsperienced ,everything would have been put into service again.thanks for insight adrian.

**LAS VEGAS** · 02-19-2010, 11:06 AM

gary bi had a m40 from arnhem and it was said it was found where german field graves had been.it had a big crack in the crown ,was it battledamage ,or a soldier crudley nailing it to the marker.?its given me another way of looking at that particular damage.

**Adrian Stevenson** · 02-19-2010, 11:35 AM

Marking graves with helmets was done a lot early in the war. But I think the practise declined as the war progressed? Recycling of helmets may have been a factor here.

Cheers, Ade.

**Schwerpunkt** · 02-21-2010, 11:38 AM

I don't think there was ever a shortage of helmets.

Here's one I just received which could have sat on top of grave.

**Luis22** · 03-04-2010, 01:16 AM

Hello Guys,
Got this helmet from Ebay, the guy that sold it to me says that he got several ground dug helmets several yrs ago from Europe. I believe is the real deal and a possible "grave marker" it has a diamond shape hole on dome.Opinions welcome (sorry for the poor quality pics is night time here)
thanks,

**CMc** · 03-04-2010, 09:14 AM

As you say, that perfect diamond shape could be an indication of a nail being driven through it. Sad to think it would've once sat above the final resting place of its wearer.

**darrenj40** · 03-04-2010, 10:08 AM

Hi, looking at the top of this helmet, i would agree that this helmet was indeed a grave marker, the nail used would more than likely been a horse shoe nail, as thare would have been plentyful supply at hand, look at the head on the first nail.....

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