Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent example of a totally original WWI German M16 Helmet shell, with a very nice "paneled" camouflage paint scheme. This was a very popular type of camouflage used on both sides of WWI, and this is a very attractive example, with the classic dark browns, greens, yellows, and reds. The stamped, sheet steel construction, helmet retains over 90% of its original hand painted camouflage paint, and just looks great. There is some light chipping, and the original green paint can be seen. This is one of the best exterior paint jobs we have seen!

The interior of the helmet has been painted over with white enamel, which seemed strange to us, until we saw that a small hole was drilled in the top of the helmet. There is paint loss in a circle on the interior, so we're fairly certain that this helmet was at one point part of a very nice USGI bring back LAMP, functioning as the lampshade.

The helmet still has both of the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, which hold the interior pickelhaube style chin strap lugs in place. The shell also retains both of the extended ventilation side lugs, which are the correct short version without any step for the larger size 66 shell. This would ensure proper installation of a Stirnpanzer brow plate regardless of shell size.

The shell is stamped Si66 indicating that Eisenhuette Silesia in Paruschowitz Oberschlesien manufactured it. This company made shells in sizes 62 and 66 for the war effort. The dome stamp is unfortunately not visible due to the interior repaint.  Size 66 is a nice large size that can accommodate liners from 58cm to 60cm or US 7 1/4 to 7 1/2. Size 66 shells are always hard to find and are therefore more valuable to a collector.

All three liner split pins are present, including the correct thicker rear pin, and still retain their camouflage paint. They are taped on the inside to keep them from moving.

This wonderful panel camouflage helmet shell, offered in very nice collectible condition, makes an eye catching addition to any Great War collection. Ready to display, or fit to another lamp!

History of the M16 Helmet

The Stahlhelm was introduced into regular service during the Verdun campaign in early 1916.

The M1916 design had side-mounted horn-like ventilator lugs which were intended to be support for an additional steel brow plate or Stirnpanzer, which only ever saw limited use by snipers and trench raiding parties, as it was too heavy for general use.

The shell came in different sizes, from 60 to 68, with some size 70s reported. The suspension, or liner, consisted of a headband with three segmented leather pouches, each holding padding materials, and leather or fabric cords could be adjusted to provide a comfortable fit. The one-piece leather chinstrap was attached to the shell by M1891 chinstrap lugs, the same kind used in the Pickelhaube helmet.

The M1916 design provided excellent protection: Reserve Lieutenant Walter Schulze of 8th Company Reserve Infantry Regiment 76 described his combat introduction to the helmet on the Somme, 29 July 1916:

"... suddenly, with a great clanging thud, I was hit on the forehead and knocked flying onto the floor of the trench... a shrapnel bullet had hit my helmet with great violence, without piercing it, but sufficiently hard to dent it. If I had, as had been usual up until a few days previously, been wearing a cap, then the Regiment would have had one more man killed."

But the helmet was not without its flaws. The ventilator horns often let cold air in during the winter, requiring the wearer to block the vents with mud or fabric. The large, flared skirt tended to make it difficult for soldiers to hear, distorting surrounding sounds and creating an echo when the wearer spoke.

Originally painted Feldgrau (field grey), the Stahlhelm was often camouflaged by troops in the field using mud, foliage, cloth covers, and paint. Official issue cloth covers in white and grey appeared in late 1916 and early 1917. Camouflage paint was not formally introduced until July 1918, when German Army Order II, No 91 366, signed by General Erich Ludendorff on 7 July 1918, outlined official standards for helmet camouflage. The order stipulated that helmets should be painted in several colors, separated by a finger-wide black line. The colors should be relevant to the season, such as using green, brown and ocher in summer.

After the effectiveness of the M1916 design was validated during the 1916 campaigns, incremental improvements were subsequently made.