Helmet of the West-German "Bundesgrenzschutz" - "Federal Border Guard " - M 1951 - Part 2

[Sleepwalker]

Hello,

after I misplaced the first variety of the West German Federal Border Guard (Bundesgrenzschutz - BGS) helmet during the Cold War


Steelhelmet of the West-German "Bundesgrenzschutz" - "Federal Border Guard " - M 1951

I now want to introduce you to the second variant.

These are also helmets from the production of the Second World War, which were hastily revised and given a sandy black-green (RAL 6012) paint on the outside.




You can find all German helmet models up to 1945, the M35, M40 and the M42.
The interior fittings 1951 is a simplified and rarely needed makeshift solution, which was replaced by the interior fittings 53 as early as 1953. The interior fittings in 1951 were still attached to the dome with three split pins. This often criticized type of fastening should change with the successor version.
The size of the lining could, however, be adjusted.

In contrast to the first variant, no metal eyelet was welded on here, but instead a galvanized sheet metal loop was riveted on.
For this sheet metal loop and for the galvanized inner ring of the inner lining, older M31 Lining parts of the Wehrmacht steel helmet were probably used.
The chinstraps, which were also newly made based on the model of the M35 steel helmet, were attached to the eyelets.

For this reason, rivet heads corresponding to the helmet are visible on the outside.



A total of around 10,000 helmets of both versions were modified to the 1951 version by the Federal Border Guard. Later, a large part, if still used, was changed to the 1953 version.
These early BGS helmets are therefore very rare in their original configuration and not repainted.

The helmet I am introducing to you is a modified M42 to the 1951 version. It has its original Texture.

Have fun watching.

To be continued with the M 1953 Helmet Part 1 in the next few weeks.

[Sleepwalker]

Here are some insights into the inside of the helmet.

You can still see that the head size can be adjusted between 54 and 57. The head size was adjusted by means of the inner ring open at the back, which could be fixed in the holes provided for this purpose.




The helmet pins correspond to those used before 1945.




The leather was fixed to the inner ring with aluminum split pins with round heads.




Old rivet holes indicate that the inner rings come from 1940 onwards WW2 M31 production and have been recycled.




There is a white Filx insert under the leather.
The V-shaped headbands are attached to the inner ring.




The headbands have a drawstring at the top in the same color.




The brackets for the chin rim by means of riveted sheet metal.
The system of riveted chinstrap holders can also be found again in the Bundeswehr helmets from 1958 onwards.




The chinstraps correspond to those of the M31 version.

[Sleepwalker]

Finally some impressions of what the helmet camouflage looked like. In the beginning, one orientated oneself on the camouflage of the Wehrmacht. Hoods were mainly used as covers, but the straps of bread bags were also used.

These ponchos and hoods in splinter camouflage were newly manufactured for the BGS. In contrast to the Wehrmacht's splinter camo, the basic color was a little lighter and the brown a little darker.

First of all, we have a camouflage cover here. This camouflage was already shown in the first part.
Here the camouflage cover was fixed by means of an inner tube strip. This also corresponds to a procedure from the Second World War.

The pictures are from the early BGS wearing this camouflage.

[Sleepwalker]

Another camouflage procedure in the early Federal Border Police also corresponds to a practice of the Wehrmacht.
Here bread bag straps were used to distort the contours and to attach camouflage material.



The bread bag strap was also the color RAL 6012 black green with black leather trim and aluminum parts matched well in terms of color.
Its shape and production method were comparable to those from the time before 1945.