Combat helmet (Bundeswehr)

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A combat helmet of the Bundeswehr is a military head protection made of steel or aramid , which was first introduced in 1956 under the name steel helmet , which was common until 1992 . The helmet can be part of the combat or field suit and is worn by all branches of the Bundeswehr .

The Bundeswehr helmet was a political issue when it was introduced. The demands of the military for sustainable head protection for the soldiers were met only very hesitantly. Under no circumstances should the helmet for the Bundeswehr be based on designs that had been developed up to 1945 or were reminiscent of the Nazi era . The shortcomings of the steel helmet used by the German Armed Forces for decades, which was designed according to the American model, were alleviated by compromises in the helmet lining.

For the current combat helmet M92 made of aramid , which was introduced in 1992, these political concerns no longer applied. The helmet should also combine all the advantages of the M35 steel helmet while meeting the most modern military requirements .

Steel helmet M56

  • German army steel helmet, as it was worn in a similar form from 1956. The retirement began in 1992.

In the run-up to the founding of the Bundeswehr, the appearance of the German soldier in view of his past during the Nazi era was discussed in detail. In the process, conclusions were drawn very quickly that were politically motivated aside from all military considerations. Among other things, the troops of friendly countries in particular should not be able to take offense at the new uniforms and the appearance of the soldiers, which could remind them in any way of the Wehrmacht. On the basis of the considerations and decisions made in the Blank office and in Bundestag committees, especially in Subcommittee III (Disciplinary Code) and the Safety Committee, any attempt to reintroduce the M36 steel helmet was doomed to failure from the outset. The traditions of the Bundeswehr to be created should be developed in the mirror image of the US Army.

After the establishment of the Bundeswehr, on October 1, 1955, the import permit was issued for a slightly modified US American steel helmet M1 made in Belgium , which came to the troops from June 1956. A short time later, the two-part helmet was recreated in Germany. The decisive factor for this choice was the work of the Blank office , which from October 1950 to 1955 was responsible, among other things, for uniforming a future German army. The visual approximation of the US model was also intended to make the Bundeswehr's ties to the West clear during the Cold War . The new, around 1.5 kg, two-part helmet, which was made of manganese steel, had a gray or green, fiber-reinforced plastic inner helmet with a woven band helmet lining; The actual steel helmet shell was put over the inner helmet. A maximum of 20 percent man-made fibers were added to the cotton fabric tapes of the inner helmet, which were soaked and dyed with special phenolic resins. In contrast to the mature, one-piece German steel helmets M35 to M42 with the M31 inner lining, the two-part American concept offered less protection and, due to construction defects, could easily slip over the wearer's eyes while shooting, creeping up or in other life-threatening situations. In addition, it turned out that the German manufacturers of the steel helmets and the Blank office had underestimated the difficulties in steel preparation and production. Even during regular service operations, the steel showed dents and dents that could no longer be removed. The negative properties of the new German helmet steel were particularly evident in quality test shelling. The permissible dent depths were exceeded there. In order not to have to restrict the development of the Bundeswehr, the provisions of the Provisional Technical Delivery Conditions that had been laid down in 1956 were softened. The problem was recognized, but the requests from the industry to return to the tried and tested German M35 steel helmet in 1957 were rejected because, in the opinion of those responsible, it had "too many straight surfaces" and therefore no longer met the requirements in their opinion. However, this political argumentation and decision in favor of the Bundeswehr was not consistently represented in the Federal Republic of Germany, since the paramilitary Federal Border Police (BGS) set up in 1951 with its M35 / 53 helmet directly relied on the one-piece German steel helmet M35 to M42.

Soldiers of the Bundeswehr in 1960 in splinter camouflage combat suits and corresponding helmet camouflage covers

The result of the talks about improving the helmet was a compromise. The tried and tested one-piece German helmet concept was taken up again, but at the same time the political decision in favor of the US steel helmet was not shaken. In addition, the weaknesses in the steel of the dome should be eliminated. During the Europe-wide search for a suitable manufacturer for a canopy made of high-quality helmet steel and better bombardment behavior, those responsible struck gold in 1958 in Sweden. As early as August 1958, the then Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss granted approval for the introduction of a new, one-piece helmet.

On January 5, 1959, the import permit for a large-scale test with the Swedish steel helmets was issued. Up to this point in time, between June 1956 and October 1958, around 190,000 of the M56 Bundeswehr steel helmets had been manufactured, of which around 180,000 were supplied by German companies.

In 1956, a plastic helmet from Schuberth was used for parades and guard stands (protocol helmet) , which weighed only 235 grams.

In addition to camouflage nets, the steel helmet also had a fabric cover in the splinter camouflage pattern of the Bundeswehr.

Steel helmet M 1A1 (M60, M62, M62 modified)

The steel helmet of the Federal Border Guard worn parallel to the Bundeswehr helmet

For the major test with around 40,000 pieces, the stainless steel dome manufactured by the Swedish Eskiltuna Stålpressnings AB was introduced in 1959. In contrast to the previous German M56 steel helmet, which only had a thin layer of steel, the Swedish army had their helmets made from a solid steel plate. It was also found that the Swedish alloy caused less echo when speaking than the previous helmet. The leather inner lining FJ 60 with four-point suspension and L-shaped chin strap was a German development and was manufactured by the Römer company. This interior was originally developed as the M53 (I 53) for the helmets of the BGS and was therefore similar to the M31 inner lining. In this version, 200,000 copies went to the troops before the M 1A1 (M60), also made of Swedish steel, was introduced to the Bundeswehr in October 1961. Nothing had changed on the calotte, but the inner lining was now fixed with a single-point suspension using a central screw. Schuberth had this type of suspension patented in 1953. The corresponding patent was published in 1954. The weight of this helmet was between 1.2 and 1.4 kg, depending on the size. Like its successors, the M60 had a matt, rough paint in yellow olive RAL 6014.

In 1962, the M62 and the I 60 helmet lining were the first revised versions of the M 1A1. The manufacturer of the helmet shell was initially the company VDN / Busch Vereinigte Deutsche Nickelwerke AG, but also the companies PSL (Paul Schulze, Lübeck) and SW (Schuberth Helme) received major orders. With this helmet a new interior came to the troops. This lining with the company's internal designation I 60 was manufactured by the Schuberth company and was even more similar to the M31 lining in leather processing.

At the beginning of the 1970s, experiments were carried out with different helmet lining variants of the M 1A1. After the introduction permit was changed on May 6, 1981, the M 1A1 was modified (M62 modified). It represents the final stage of development of the M 1A1 military helmet and had a plastic neck piece developed by Schuberth-Werke, as well as a V-shaped chin strap with three-point attachment, which should ensure that the helmet is even more reliably held on the wearer's head. This concept, rediscovered by the paratroopers in the 1930s, was first used successfully by the Roman legions for centuries.

In addition to camouflage nets, for a while there were also fabric covers in the splinter camouflage pattern of the Bundeswehr for all these steel helmet variants.

Steel helmet M 1A1LL

After the introduction of the variant of the US helmet produced in Belgium to the paratroopers, it quickly became clear that it did not meet the requirements of the troops. In addition to the inadequate infantry helmet, the Bundeswehr therefore also experimented extensively on a more suitable helmet for the paratroopers. A series of tests was carried out with various helmet variants, especially on the basis of the German paratrooper helmet M38, the latest development of which made of manganese steel was successfully tested in a major test by paratroopers and motorized troops in 1957. It was found that the American shape of the helmet "had not proven itself in practice" and that the troops "only demanded 'a usable helmet'". In the end, against better knowledge, the American helmet shell, now with the "Germanized interior" as the steel helmet M 1A1LL, prevailed. After the order for a paratrooper helmet had been placed in November 1959, it was delivered in August 1961 with interior fittings supplied by the Schuberth company.

In contrast to the Bundeswehr, the Border Guard Group 9 (GSG 9) set up in September 1972 initially introduced the tried and tested M38 paratrooper helmet. For the helmet lining, the modernized variant of the Schuberth company, which had been used on the M62, was also used. Even with this political decision, the reservations about pre-war helmets that existed for the Bundeswehr did not count.

Combat helmet M92

  • The aramid combat helmet introduced in 1992. Here in the version of the former Federal Border Police

  • Interior of the same helmet

In addition to the constant improvements to the steel helmet lining, the Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement , which had succeeded the Blank office in 1957, commissioned the German Federal Ministry of Defense to investigate new helmet concepts since the late 1960s. In order to achieve a higher bullet resistance, experiments were carried out with titanium , among other things . However, at that time the use of titanium helmets remained uneconomical due to the high production costs. On the other hand, at that time the plastics were not yet mature enough to meet the military requirements. Composite materials were also checked. In addition to improved ballistic properties, weight advantages were also hoped for. After several armies around the world had already been equipped with newly developed helmets made of aramid , the Bundestag also dealt with this question in 1986. It was established that "the advantages of a combat helmet made of aramid over the conventional steel helmet of the German armed forces [...] had long been proven". In addition to the US Army, the Israeli and British armed forces, many anti-terrorist units had already introduced an aramid helmet.

Which dealt with the development of Schuberth was based on the 1975 developed and 1983 first introduced PASGT Helmet (PASGT = Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops - Personal Armor System for Ground Troops ) of the US Army, consisting of 29 layers of aramid fiber Kevlar was. During the US invasion of Grenada , the American soldiers surprised the public for the first time with their new synthetic helmet, which in profile borrowed from the German M35 steel helmet and was nicknamed "Fritz" by the GIs . Since this modern US helmet consciously took up the tried and tested shape of the German M35 steel helmet and interpreted it in a modern way, the new German combat helmet, designated with the code 10797, which was introduced on January 15, 1992, abandoned the old American lines and visually approached it the M35. The development costs came to 2.64 million DM . In the year the new helmet was introduced, 14,500 copies were delivered. 9,100 came from Schuberth, the rest from the Spanish supplier Induyco. The aramid helmet also has disadvantages. The material is not scratch-resistant compared to steel and can no longer be used as a seat.

A variety of usable accessories can be attached to the combat helmet M92, such as a built-in radio, an infrared vision device and the like.

For the M92 combat helmet, covers made of various camouflage materials are common in use and during exercises.

Ops core helmet "Fast"

A US special unit with Ops Core helmets

In 2013, as part of the modernization program Infantryman of the Future - New System ("Gladius"), the 3rd Company of the Security Battalion introduced 12 new special helmets of the "Fast" model line from the US company Ops-Core. Various additional modules such as a white light lamp and night vision goggles can be attached to these. With the help of electronic helmet optics, the wearer is shown the positions of other members of his unit. The helmet weighs 20 percent less than the previous one, which is associated with a loss of protection. The special helmet is not designed for lateral fire on the wearer, since the ears and lateral skull area remain unprotected to enable the attachment of speakers . The neck protection is also missing. A delivery of helmet camouflage covers in order to match the color of the helmet to the surroundings, and helmet camouflage nets with sewn-on burlap strips or as mitznefet to dissolve the contour of the helmet in the field for camouflage, or as a coarse-meshed net for attaching natural camouflage material was dispensed with. In addition, the Ops-Core Fast is only conditionally suitable for skydiving service.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The Bundeswehr steel helmet on stahlhelmjaeger.de Private Homepage
  2. ↑ Donald Abenheim: Bundeswehr and Tradition. The search for the valid legacy of the German soldier. Oldenbourg, Munich 1989, ISBN 3-486-55371-2 , pp. 84-87.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Heinrich Müller, Rolf Wirtgen (ed.): Armored times. 2000 years of body protection for soldiers from ancient muscle armor to bulletproof vest. Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement, 1995, ISBN 3-927038-60-1 , p. 136.
  4. ↑ Gero von Gersdorff: Adenauer's foreign policy towards the victorious powers 1954. West German armament and international politics (=  contributions to military history 41). Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag, Munich 1994, ISBN 3-486-55980-X , p. 392.
  5. ↑ a b Die Zeit, October 4, 1956 No. 40, p. 2.
  6. ^ Defense and Economy, Stuttgarter Verlagkontor, Stuttgart 1957, p. 57.
  7. ↑ a b Defense and Economy, 3rd year, 4/1959, Stuttgarter Verlagkontor, Stuttgart 1959, p. 36.
  8. ↑ Patent DE 000001674243 U: headgear, in particular a steel helmet, the interior of which is held at a single point in the middle of the inner wall of the helmet .
  9. ↑ Johannes Denecke: Camouflage paints of the German army 1914 until today. Bernard & Graefe, Bonn 1999, ISBN 3-7637-5990-5 .
  10. ↑ Marcus Junkelmann : Die Legionen des Augustus Verlag Phillipp von Zabern, Mainz 1986, ISBN 3-8053-0886-8 , p. 171.
  11. ↑ Wehr und Wirtschaft, 5/6 1967, Stuttgarter Verlagkontor, Stuttgart 1957, p. 91.
  12. ^ Floyd R. Tubbs: Stahlhelm. Evolution of the German Steel Helmet. State University Press, Kent 2000, ISBN 0-87338-677-9 , p. 114.
  13. ↑ Negotiations of the German Bundestag. Volume 342, 10th electoral term, 1986, p. 25.
  14. ↑ Heinrich Müller, Rolf Wirtgen (ed.): Armored times. 2000 years of body protection for soldiers from ancient muscle armor to bulletproof vest. Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement, 1995, ISBN 3-927038-60-1 , p. 238.
  15. ↑ The steel helmet is 70 years old . In: Wehrwissenschaftliche Rundschau 8/1984, pp. 481–482; here: p. 482.
  16. ↑ Heinrich Müller, Rolf Wirtgen (ed.): Armored times. 2000 years of body protection for soldiers from ancient muscle armor to bulletproof vest. Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement, 1995, ISBN 3-927038-60-1 , p. 146.
  17. ↑ Heinrich Müller, Rolf Wirtgen (ed.): Armored times. 2000 years of body protection for soldiers from ancient muscle armor to bulletproof vest. Federal Office for Defense Technology and Procurement, 1995, ISBN 3-927038-60-1 , p. 147.
  18. ↑ A system with a future . Website of the Bundeswehr magazine; accessed on January 15, 2017.

Web links

Commons : Helmets of the Bundeswehr  - collection of images