Rare german helmet????

[GasMasksUK]

This is a picture that came to mind when I seen your helmet, its a member of the Freikorps.

Thanks

Danny

[duck killer]

Thanks again for the info! Im going out today and buying a camera charger
Pic's will be up soon

[lach470]

Looking forward to seeing the new pics! That will help for sure.

Rob

[CMc]

It'll be interesting to see those better pictures when you post them, as there might be some promise in that helmet. As has been said, Freikorps troops were photographed with the skull-and-crossbones painted on helmets and other equipment during the political violence in Germany in the years after WWI. A quick google even turns up a few armoured vehicles in Freikorps hands, including a British mkV and what looks like a lorry modified with boiler plate armour, wearing the crossbones insignia.

As for the shield on the side, it may be my computer monitor but I'm having trouble working out whether the shield is white/black, or white/dark green. If it was white/green I think that would mean the Freikorps man who wore it was in a Saxony-based unit. Unsure what a white/black one would mean, I think Prussia had those colours but I don't know whether that's how they'd be painted.

[DougB]

Only certain Freikorps units wore the skull and crossed bones insignia, in fact there was many insignia of the Freikorps. I have a book somewhere that details every Freikorps unit, their place of origin and insignia. I will look it up when time permits. The insignia is heavily faked and would require some very good clear non flash glare closeups and would expect to see clear aging and toning of the paint. Finnish units also wore this insignia as well.

[CMc]

That's quite a good piece of information, certainly I found it quite interesting. The Freikorps was never a specialist subject of mine but I do find such things interesting.

[TheCroatian]

Very poor pictures, with the detail provided and the rarity of these helmets I have serious doubts already, chin strap looks bad...liner could be original though

DougB is correct:

would require some very good clear non flash glare closeups and would expect to see clear aging and toning of the paint

Wouldnt the side decal rule out a Finnish lid?

[DougB]

Wouldnt the side decal rule out a Finnish lid?

Yes I was only saying the Finnish used the skull and crossed bones insignia on the front of their helmets for a time. I don't think this helmet is Finnish, or Freikorps for that matter. I believe this one is one of the many postwar mockups.

[TheCroatian]

Totally agree Doug.

[Clyde]

agree