NVA DDR M56 helmet military police

**Redstalker** · 02-06-2016, 07:20 PM

Hi guys this helmet arrived today and I am chuffed to bits. The smell when I opened the box was great

old, rusty, musty, helmet and full of dust, spider webs and dead insects

This helmet has stamped on the skirt II (size 2) 5 and 61 (year 1961) the MP helmet cover is very worn and dirty as you can see in the pics. The name B.Werner is written in red on one of the impact sponge, I can't help thinking his name was Bertie Werner

Thanks for looking guys.

**OldSteel** · 02-06-2016, 07:36 PM

Very interesting, Ian
the first version of M56, do not see many around.

**battle gear** · 02-07-2016, 07:14 AM

by OldSteel

Very interesting, Ian
the first version of M56, do not see many around.

+1

it's a very good find, they are not very common, most have been refurbed with new liners and repainted

Im a fan of the early M56 stalhelms

**reneblacky** · 02-07-2016, 07:39 AM

Very very nice

**reneblacky** · 02-07-2016, 10:24 AM

HEHEHE mine also had a dead spider! lucky it got through our tough customs!

**Redstalker** · 02-07-2016, 10:46 AM

I'm surprised they never charged me import fees on it

**Watchdog** · 02-07-2016, 02:09 PM

Nice find especially with the lid being an early M56

I remember during the "bad old days" of the Cold War these helmet covers were somewhat mythical usually only seen in DDR propaganda pics or sometimes on major parades.

I was totally amazed to find this one on Ebay.de and even more so when I won the auction at a price not much more than the much later lids that presently flood the market. It is practically mint and I think must have just lived in somebodys' locke!
The only stamp visible in the shell is the II size mark but the configuration of the shell and liner dates it to a fairly short period anyway.

You would think that with the size of the DDR forces there would be more of these but I believe they were "wasted out" before newer types were issued and that a lot were converted to later specs.

Regards

Mark

**battle gear** · 02-07-2016, 05:30 PM

by Watchdog

Nice find especially with the lid being an early M56

I remember during the "bad old days" of the Cold War these helmet covers were somewhat mythical usually only seen in DDR propaganda pics or sometimes on major parades.

I was totally amazed to find this one on Ebay.de and even more so when I won the auction at a price not much more than the much later lids that presently flood the market. It is practically mint and I think must have just lived in somebodys' locke!
The only stamp visible in the shell is the II size mark but the configuration of the shell and liner dates it to a fairly short period anyway.

You would think that with the size of the DDR forces there would be more of these but I believe they were "wasted out" before newer types were issued and that a lot were converted to later specs.

Regards

Mark

I can see a very faint 61? I think your helmet is dated 1961

the DDR also exported many of these to other countries like North Vietnam , Turkey, some were used in the Bosnian war, African Bush wars, others? it seems many of them were given away as military aid.