(1) I own three "first pattern" East German M56's with the three tiny external rivets, WWII-style liner, and Y-chinstrap. (The earliest is stamped "57II.") Nothing startling so far.
(2) But see Marzetti's small photo of an "early" M56 with the WWII liner, single-piece chinstrap, and large external rivets (I think).
(3) But wait...see Brendon's Helmets site showing an "M56" with a WWII-dated liner, a single-strand WWII-dated chinstrap, and three large external rivets fairly high up.
(4) Best yet...just received this "M56" in the mail - see photos. It has the single-piece chinstrap, the WWII-style liner, three large external rivets (but much lower than Brendon's), a steel grey dome, and rough dark green exterior paint. The sole markings are in the left flange: "7C' (no, not 57C) and a strange symbol above it that looks like a backwards 'C' next to a 'P.''
What in the world does Brendon have and what do I have? As a 2014 thread implied, do we have the rare B/II helmets reissued in late 1945? If they are not that rare, then what? Thanks.
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