Point on German WWI Helmet

[plumjam]

So the helmet had a point but the point had no point. Presumably by the end of the war the helmet had no point either.

Good point.

 

[BobTheDonkey]

Good point.

That's what she said...heh.

 

[Retrograde]

When it comes to impractical but cool helmet designs there are some great medieval ones, for example http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=5265. The Teutonic knights in the film Alexander Nevsky had some pretty neat helmets as well, but I'm not sure how accurate those are.

 

[Fitter]

The helmets were called Pikelhauben. When they were out of ammo they used to run at the enemy with their heads down.

Like this?

 

[timhau]

Also, if an attack happened while you were eating lunch, you could stick your bratwurst up there until the shooting was over.

And if the other guys had flamethrowers, you got your bratwursts grilled while fighting.

 

[Andy_Ross]

It was just a decoration,and during WW1 Was generally not worn at the front. In 1916,the leather PIcklehaud was replaced by the "Coal Scuttle" helmet which lasted through the end of World War 2,and of course led to the current US Army "Fritz " helmet.

No it didn't, that is mor ea case of 'convergeant evolution'.

British 'Home Service' helmets were designed as imitations of the Prussian helmet after the Franco Prussian War. As the Prussian army was admired at the time for it's fighting efficiency it was felt that by a number of countries that copying some of its appearance and training would improve the various armies.

 

[ddt]

When it comes to impractical but cool helmet designs there are some great medieval ones, for example http://www.myarmoury.com/talk/viewtopic.php?t=5265.

Is that Lothian's cousin in the 3rd post on page 2?

The Teutonic knights in the film Alexander Nevsky had some pretty neat helmets as well, but I'm not sure how accurate those are.

I don't think Eisenstein primarily had historic authenticity in mind when designing the costumes. The film was meant as an allegory for the upcoming Great Patriotic War. The helmets of the footsoldiers remind of the German "Stahlhelm" that was introduced during WW1 and continued into WW2. According to wiki, Eisenstein even contemplated putting swastikas on their gear. I always thought the convoluted crests on the helmets of the Teutonic Knights' leaders were just designed for sinister effect. The German wiki says that the one with the hand was meant as symbolic of the Hitler salute.

Here's the part where they've just taken Pskov (quite gruesome, esp. near the end). From about 4 min., you get a good view of 3 of the 4 crests. Note also the costume of the main priest, which is that of a Spanish inquisitor of centuries later.

 

[kookbreaker]

The Picklehaube's point was also used to identify the type of troops as well, for example, the artillery units had a (cannon) ball on the top instead of a point.

The Picklehaube was leather and light metal and so barely qualified as a 'helmet'. The metal 'Coal Scuttle' soon replaced it when it was found that simple head protection was much more valuable than any other type in trench warefare.