M95 Vs M15

Excellent helmets, thanks for sharing them with us! =D>

I have always regretted the day that I walked away from a stone-mint condition M15 Wurttemburg e.m. helmet that I held in my hands in an "off the beaten path" antique shop here in Iowa back in 1987 or '88. It was complete, and priced at $250 or so, which I thought was about $50 or $75 too high at the time. I always figured that I would find another one quite easily that would be more reasonably priced. ](*,) Ha-ha, the joke was on me. I've never seen another complete one available in stone mint condition at any price since then.

I had also made the same mistake with a Saxon M15 e.m. helmet a few years earlier, back in 1982 or '83. That one was also stone mint and complete, and priced at $225 as I recall on opening night, at the old huge "Collector's Extravaganza" semi-annual antique show in Des Moines. A normal price for an M15 e.m. helmet back then was maybe $125 to $150 tops, so I hesitated to buy that one as well. #-o

I was too young and stubborn back then, and did not understand how collectible items like these could and would appreciate in value over time.

Best Regards,

Alan
 
Been there Alan,
I know what it feels like to have walked away from an offer and then regretting it , I guess all of us collectors must have been in that same situation , but every now and then a good deal comes along ,and it makes up for those mistakes ,not giving up is the best way to be able to look back satisfied. :occasion5:
 
By member Spiker:
Been there Alan,
I know what it feels like to have walked away from an offer and then regretting it , I guess all of us collectors must have been in that same situation , but every now and then a good deal comes along ,and it makes up for those mistakes ,not giving up is the best way to be able to look back satisfied. :occasion5:
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Thanks Ed, I agree 100%. I've had a great year so far finding several unexpected very good deals with some hard to find helmets, so I shouldn't be worrying about a couple lost helmets I walked away from so long ago. :D

Best Regards,

Alan
 
Anyone know how the M'15 model was issued into service? Did whole units turn in their M'95s and receive the new model, or was the new models worked into service by issuing to new units and replacements, or what? Where all the earlier helmets withdrawn and replaced?
 
aicusv said:
Anyone know how the M'15 model was issued into service? Did whole units turn in their M'95s and receive the new model, or was the new models worked into service by issuing to new units and replacements, or what? Where all the earlier helmets withdrawn and replaced?
Click to expand...

Good question …

I guess the M95 helmets were distributed till the stock run out, which would not take long because with the great mobilization, a lot of new helmets where needed quickly.
In contrast with the M15 we never see M95s out of overstock.
The Germans lost about 2 million soldiers during WWI, these losses were worst in 1914, the first year of the war, and September 1914 was the bloodiest month of the whole war.
This means that the first batch of soldiers just disappeared along with their equipment.
But the M15 was probably traded in right away by the steal helmet ,as it was a more a matter of better protection opposed to the problems with the high production costs of the pickelhaube.

In this picture we can see a mix of the M95 ,filz and stahlblech.


 
I agree with Ed, the captured warehouses of 1918 seem to have contained only M15 style helmes which had been traded in for the stahlhelmes or brand new, never issued M 15 pieces. I know through my restoration experience that many M95's were converted to M15 fittings. We know from the original fotos such as the one posted here that there were a variety of different helmet shells fitted with brass fittings. We also have foto evidence of Hessen, Saxe Duchies units etc wearing Prussian brass wappen. There was also a mixture of parts....my M15 Hessen has brass M91 posts for example. So in conclusion, I don't think that there was any uniform distribution of M15 helmets. Newly created units may have been issued 100% M15 or 80% M15 with the rest wearing the old M 95's.....whatever was available. The M95's could wear an uberzug.
I do know from reading CEF accounts that the Brit Brodie helmets were initially classified as "trench stores" because they were new and in short supply. So if your battalion was going out of the line, you left the Brodies for your relief Batt coming in. It makes sense on both sides that the priority was issuing steel helmets to the guys who were in the most dangerous situations.
 
I have posted this before, so forgive me.
From talking with (German) veterans,I learned that the steel helmets were maintained at a depot behind the lines. They were issued as troops entered the trenches and turned in upon leaving. The spike helmets were worn behind the lines. Soldiers were required to switch their chinstraps from one helmet to the other. This practice continued for some time, at least into 1918.

As to mixed metal fittings - I have this one;
http://www.pickelhaubes.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=9112
 
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