argonne
Well-known member
Hello Guys,
This one helmet with Überzug is my favorite in my small helmets collection, probably the only one I would try to keep if I ever have to sell my collection.
First, I have to thank Joe, who sold it to me at the beginning of 2017. It was not cheap, but it was worth it! So this topic is a kind of tribute to Joe who had an exceptional instinct to buy this helmet years ago! It could be really difficult to find another one of this special and unknown hessian reserve unit, formed December 1914.
The regimental story came with the helmet. As both, helmet and Überzug have the name of the original wearer (Heinrich OPPER, 4/254), it was a real exciting work to track the story of this guy.
The RJR254 was a very long time on the eastern front, from February 1915 till March 1918, as it came to France for the very first time.
I had the luck to make a trip to Poland (Mazuria, Belarus border) last May, and this was a very good opportunity to follow the path of Heinrich OPPER and his unit during the three last weeks of February 1915, called the second battle of Mazuria (Winterschlacht in den Masuren). So I took some pictures of the exact places and landscape he saw for almost 100 years.
First, some views of the helmet:
The RJR254 was formed on the 16.12.14 in Hesse-Darmstadt with three Feldbataillonen:
- Feldbataillon 70 (with MG Zug 1), formed with parts of the Ersatz-Bataillon LGR115 in Darmstadt and became I/RJR254
- Feldbataillon 71, formed with parts of the Ersatz-Bataillon JR168 in Offenbach and became II/RJR254
- Feldbataillon 72, formed with parts of the Ersatz-Bataillon JR116 in Friedberg and became III/RJR254
The name tag sewn in the Überzug shows us that the Gardist OPPER was at the 4. company of the Feldbataillon 70 which became the 4. company of the RJR254 on the 16.12.14. The designation "Gardist" confirms that FB70 was formed with elements of the LGR115. Only such guys of this unit were entitled to have this designation which ended as the RJR254 was formed. The Feldbataillon 70 was a very small transition unit which only have existed between end of November and middle of December 1914
The same name is written at the inside of front visor:
Probably for some strong traditional reasons, this LGR115 origin has continued to subsist in the fittings on this helmet. They are truly all white metal (german silver), although very oxydized. Only parts of the fittings which were susceptible to be seen by the enemy have been painted in fieldgrey or chemically darkened: front trim, chinstrap elements, side posts and even the ventilation neck of the spike that could shine between the two parts of the Überzug.
The hessian plate first looks like brass, but when you look at the back, it´s clearly german silver
Without the Überzug remaining on the helmet, no one could have ever know the unit and the story of this quite (ugly) simple classic felt helmet, of its wearer and the places where he has fought.
Next episode to come soon :wink:
Philippe
:wink:
This one helmet with Überzug is my favorite in my small helmets collection, probably the only one I would try to keep if I ever have to sell my collection.
First, I have to thank Joe, who sold it to me at the beginning of 2017. It was not cheap, but it was worth it! So this topic is a kind of tribute to Joe who had an exceptional instinct to buy this helmet years ago! It could be really difficult to find another one of this special and unknown hessian reserve unit, formed December 1914.
The regimental story came with the helmet. As both, helmet and Überzug have the name of the original wearer (Heinrich OPPER, 4/254), it was a real exciting work to track the story of this guy.
The RJR254 was a very long time on the eastern front, from February 1915 till March 1918, as it came to France for the very first time.
I had the luck to make a trip to Poland (Mazuria, Belarus border) last May, and this was a very good opportunity to follow the path of Heinrich OPPER and his unit during the three last weeks of February 1915, called the second battle of Mazuria (Winterschlacht in den Masuren). So I took some pictures of the exact places and landscape he saw for almost 100 years.
First, some views of the helmet:
The RJR254 was formed on the 16.12.14 in Hesse-Darmstadt with three Feldbataillonen:
- Feldbataillon 70 (with MG Zug 1), formed with parts of the Ersatz-Bataillon LGR115 in Darmstadt and became I/RJR254
- Feldbataillon 71, formed with parts of the Ersatz-Bataillon JR168 in Offenbach and became II/RJR254
- Feldbataillon 72, formed with parts of the Ersatz-Bataillon JR116 in Friedberg and became III/RJR254
The name tag sewn in the Überzug shows us that the Gardist OPPER was at the 4. company of the Feldbataillon 70 which became the 4. company of the RJR254 on the 16.12.14. The designation "Gardist" confirms that FB70 was formed with elements of the LGR115. Only such guys of this unit were entitled to have this designation which ended as the RJR254 was formed. The Feldbataillon 70 was a very small transition unit which only have existed between end of November and middle of December 1914
The same name is written at the inside of front visor:
Probably for some strong traditional reasons, this LGR115 origin has continued to subsist in the fittings on this helmet. They are truly all white metal (german silver), although very oxydized. Only parts of the fittings which were susceptible to be seen by the enemy have been painted in fieldgrey or chemically darkened: front trim, chinstrap elements, side posts and even the ventilation neck of the spike that could shine between the two parts of the Überzug.
The hessian plate first looks like brass, but when you look at the back, it´s clearly german silver
Without the Überzug remaining on the helmet, no one could have ever know the unit and the story of this quite (ugly) simple classic felt helmet, of its wearer and the places where he has fought.
Next episode to come soon :wink:
Philippe
:wink: