M45 Helmets

[Brian]

(l) B/II
(r) M56

[hawk82]

The designated M44
Wilson History & Research Center

[PeterValadez]

it looks like a east german helmet?

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Peter, the East German NVA used this design as the basis for their steel helmet.

Cheers, Ade.

[beda]

Detektory kovù - Koneènì nìjaký nálezy – Detektor web.cz

[HJ-Collector]

Left: B/II prototype. To have been the new 'stahlhelm 45' but never put into mass production. It has the M44 liner system.

Right: M45-A. Also called 'ventless M42'. It has the M31 liner system.

hi no offence here intended but that helmet just doesnt do it for me its horrible,wither original or not it would not be in my collection i however like the one below

[hawk82]

The helmets shown here are all not M44 or M45.
Maybe they are not even genuine.
Take a look at this link

Wilson History & Research Center

This is the real M44

[Brian]

The helmets shown here are all not M44 or M45.
Maybe they are not even genuine.
Take a look at this link

Wilson History & Research Center

This is the real M44


Hawk, how do you know this is the 'real M44', and why do you think the B/II that I posted may not be genuine ?

Are your beliefs based soley on the website link posted?

If you reference Baer's 'History of the German Steel Helmet 1916-1945'

pp.396-398, you will see that the prototypes that he illustrates (Bundesarchiv photos) have no air vents.

[hawk82]

Your helmet is a cutted NVA helmet

In this thread, post #48 and further, on 11-09-2005, you are showing your replicas
Recreating a B/II Stahlhelm - Page 4 - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

On December 30 2006 you are presenting a "real" B/II to the world.
Post #34 and further.
RE: Thale B-II Stahlhelm auction - Page 3 - Wehrmacht-Awards.com Militaria Forums

Do you really think anyone believes your story?
I don´t.

[Brian]

Hawk, it should be more a matter of knowing for yourself what is original, and less of people telling you what is original.

Yes, I have in the past fabricated models B, B/II, and C using DDR helmets, and you have no doubt seen the repro B/II on WAF.

But if you would bother to closely compare the repro B/II with the B/II posted on this forum, you would see that the two are not identical helmets.

The M56 DDR helmet is a copy of the B/II, but not an exact copy. The B/II has slightly steeper angles, higher dome, wider base, a factory finished edge, and a more narrow visor. One does not arrive at this helmet by simply cutting down a DDR M56. They are two different helmets made by different stamping dies.

Hawk, if you don't like my B/II, thats fine. But don't try to tell me it was made from a cut down DDR helmet, because that is clearly not the case.