Italian Pith with German Shields?

[RobertE]

Is this a common wartime set-up? It looks like it's been this way for awhile, but did the Germans use Italian sun helmets very much?

Does it look alright to our tropical gurus?

regards, Robert

[RobertE]

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[RobertE]

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[Bond]

Hello RobertE.

The Germans did use Italian M1928 sun helmets, though this does not appear to be one of them IMO.

Most of the examples used by the Germans that I have seen have had the plume holder removed and also have an issue to the German Wehrmacht (in German) ink stamp. These were also issued to the Kriegsmarine and the SS and have the suitable variation of the ink stamp, ie property of the kriegsmarine or Waffen SS, though interestingly I have never seen a Luftwaffe example.

The pins do not look to have settled into the fabric to any extent.

Regards,

Jerry

[francis006]

I agree , like Jerry said, it lacks the features found on these Italian pith used by the Germans .

[RobertE]

Thanks for looking, guys. No stamps = no use by the Germans?

regards, Robert

[Bond]

Originally Posted by RobertE

Thanks for looking, guys. No stamps = no use by the Germans?

regards, Robert

I am sure there would have been circumstances when a German used an Italian sun helmet without it going through the channels and getting an issue stamp.

This helmet looks to be one of the stock of unissued examples found after the war, and has had an Italian badge added at some time in it's history and then has also had the German badges added, but when this was done is best told from looking at where the pins for the badges sit and how they interact with the liner and IMO, they do not look to have been there for circa 70 years.

It is so easy to fake this combination of Italian sun helmet and German tropical shields that unless you are really sure all is correct, it is best to be sceptical. The presence of the correct issue stamp allows a certainty that non stamped examples do not give you.

Regards,

Jerry

[RobertE]

Jerry, that's a great background on these, and thank you. It would be easy to convert a helmet from post-war storage, I agree.

The pins do look like they've been there awhile, though. Probably doesn't show well in the pictures, but the aluminum pins show the same settling and (lack) of corrosion as the aluminum prongs on the helmets vents that are right next to them. They both looked like they joined the helmet the same time.

But the stamp makes sense, and if that is the mark of a wartime piece, than this one isn't.

Thanks again for the nice posting.

regards, Robert

[guy dulac]

Hi Robert,

This was on ebay, did you buy it there? I was recently stung by a faker on ebay, get a refund by stating it's fake and name the seller.

Guy

[RobertE]

Hi Guy,

I was not a faker who sold this pth helmet to me, but I'm glad you had success getting your money back.

regards, Robert