Original German WWI Battlefield Pickup M16 KIA Shot Through Helmet with Partial Liner – Size 66 Shell Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is an amazing example of a totally original WWI German M16 Helmet Shell, which was “Shot Through” long ago, almost certainly killing the wearer. It was then left on the battlefield for a while, which resulted in deterioration of the liner and rust damage on the inside, giving it that great “dug up” look.

The stamped, sheet steel construction, helmet retains a good amount of the original olive green paint on the exterior, standard for German WWI Helmets. The helmet shell still has has both the dome headed chinstrap retaining rivets, with their internal chin strap mounting washers. It still has both of the extended ventilation side lugs for the attachment of a stirnpanzer, and they are the correct shorter version without a step for size 66 shells. The helmet also retains three of the flat-headed liner retaining rivets, with the correct thicker rear rivet. These hold in place an original metal liner band, which is now rusted, with two of the three panels still present, though they are definitely degraded due to exposure and age.

The top of the helmet has a large hole, with cracking around it, which is what we typically see from a high power bullet strike or possibly shrapnel from a high explosive shell. There is another hole next to a 2 inch long crack, and there are some additional dents. There is even a dent from the inside, so this helmet may have been exposed to additional incoming fire after it was left on the field. Close inspection of the paint, style and aging of the edges lead us to be very confident that this totally 100% genuine.

The inside of the shell unfortunately has a lot of surface rust, so we are no longer able to see the maker code, but we definitely can see the size 66 marked on the left inside by the chin strap lug. Size 66 is a hard to find 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. We unfortunately cannot see any type of dome stamp on the top inside of the shell.

With the recent 100-year anniversary of the close of world war one, this helmet, offered in great collectible condition, is a perfect addition to any Great War collection.

History of the M16

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.