Description
Interwar German M16 Helmet – Early Paint, 3-Pad Liner, and Foliage Basket
This is an interwar German Model 1916 helmet, notable for its early features and survival of an original sheet-metal foliage basket attachment. Helmets of this type reflect the evolution of German headgear from the First World War into the interwar period, retaining wartime construction while incorporating experimental camouflage equipment.
The exterior shows a regulation camouflage paint scheme of ochre yellow, brown, and apple green, separated by a black divider line approximately one finger in width. The surface retains much of its smooth-textured finish, with moderate wear consistent with long-term storage and use. This paint pattern is associated with late-war and transitional applications. This paint scheme is sometimes referred to as buntfarbenanstrich.
Inside, the helmet is fitted with the three-pad liner system mounted to a steel band, a configuration characteristic of early production. The leather pads are intact and stable, showing expected age, while the steel band remains firmly in place.
The most distinctive element of this example is the sheet-metal camouflage basket, designed to hold foliage or other natural materials in place over the shell. These devices were produced in very limited quantities and seldom survive in complete form. The basket retains its structural integrity and demonstrates the innovative measures taken to improve concealment on the battlefield.
Taken together, the helmet, liner, and basket form a representative artifact of the transitional period between the end of the First World War and the modernization of German combat equipment in the 1930s.
Keywords: German M16 helmet, camouflage helmet, interwar German militaria, WWI transitional gear, helmet foliage basket, German field equipment.
🔗 Reference more at OldSteelGuns.com
Documentation and study of original helmets and field gear.
