Unusual Bulgarian M51 helmet

[Humanic]

Hello to all,

Finally found the photo I mentioned earlier.

Where I fonud it - I do not remember - somewhere over the internet.



So my helmet is exactly the same and not fake.


Thank you.

BR,

Alex

[Humanic]

Hello again,

This one was also given to me by the same Bulgarian ex-military.















He said it is experimental type.

BR,

Alex

[Jack59]

Hello Alex,

Interesting is your experimental helmet giving to you for what is probably
the last version of the M51/72 helmets & having finally a Russian look.
Thanks to have also included a photo of the interior metallic liner support system.

To help understand the different modifications of the Bulgarian national colours emblem, here is a brief historic overview.
A decal of the National colours was applied on the right side of helmets until 1940, that same year this practice was cancelled (being to much similar to the German one?). Bulgaria abandoned Germany as an allied & joined the Soviets in 1944 (the majority of the population was never pro German to begin with), then helped with three Armies (455,000 men) to liberate Yugoslavia, Hungary & Austria. In 1947 the communist took officially control of the country. Since the Bulgarian Army ended the war on the Soviet side they kept their former uniforms & M36 helmets. An hand painted red star started to appear on the front of helmets & also hand painted national colours (often horizontal) on the right side of helmets. Note that M36 helmets with decals are still found today but getting rare. The red star & national colours on helmets were not mandatory explaining why some helmets have neither, some one, others both & in a wide variety of national colours style!

Here are a few historical photos when Bulgaria was on the Soviet side & the end of WW2.










More info on Bulgaria in WW2: Bulgaria during World War II - Wikipedia

[Humanic]

Nice written, thank you.
It is good to mention that the original M16 and M36 decals were only two types.
Will post photos next days.
Interestingly enough no unaplied decals ever surfaced.

[Humanic]

Reading the other excellent topic on our Bulgarian M51 and M72 helmets I have seen that you mentioned on numbers.



Mine also has one number. Number one.