Saxon helmets harder to find?

G

Grabenmaxx

Well-known member
I was just looking at an overview with the number of inhabitants each German state of the Kaiserreich had. I noticed Sachsen had twice as much inhabitants as Baden and Württemberg (about 4.8 against 2.1 and 2.4 million).

Since I see Saxon Haubes much less frequent than the other 2, I found this quite striking. Does anyone has an idea what the reason could be?
Or am I mistaken and do you think you don't found them less often at all?
 
That is a very good question, which I have been asking myself, especially since Saxony had two entire army corps.

I have received two explanations from other collectors: Under communist rule in the GDR, things relating to the royal past were often thrown away. The other explanation, which I like, is that the Saxons are very proud of Saxon history and therefore don't give things away.

We do have Saxons among the members of the Forum. Perhaps they have a better explanation?

Best wishes,

GardeUlan
 
Perhaps the Saxon star isnt as sexy as a big Eagle or Griffins, so were not so keenly sought after as a souvenir? Rob
 
I know it was tuff having any kind of Militaria items from WWII but not sure about WWI.

Personal experience for me is that part of my family lives outside of Eisenach and was stuck on the wrong side of the wall during the Communist period. My uncle now has a few family pieces from the WWII period on display in the kleine kneipe in his basement.

He said the family had them buried in the back yard because there would be real big trouble if you were caught with them or any weapons in your home.

Maybe it was something similar in Saxony with WWI and II items. I would guess a lot of the officer class kept their Helmets in the case safe in the family home. Personally, I could never understand any family selling their history. I have things from family members on both sides of conflicts that I wouldn't sell at any price.
 
Ce n'ai pas mon observation. En France, on trouve plus facilement un casque saxon qu ' un wurtembergeois ou badois. Mais il faut savoir que Dresde et la Saxe ont été fortement bombardé pendant la Ww2, ce qui peut expliquer partiellement la rareté. (Traducrion ultérieure prevue)
 
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I think a large part of it was due to WW2 and then its aftermath. Saxony was heavily industrialized and was heavily bombed (e.g. Dresden) during the war. Then it was behind the Iron Curtain for a long time. I have heard rumors that a lot of the best stuff from Prussia and Saxony was then carried away back to Russia.
 
southsando said:
I think a large part of it was due to WW2 and then its aftermath. Saxony was heavily industrialized and was heavily bombed (e.g. Dresden) during the war. Then it was behind the Iron Curtain for a long time. I have heard rumors that a lot of the best stuff from Prussia and Saxony was then carried away back to Russia.
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One of the best Saxon helmets that I had was an officer's that I bought from Paul Sanders some years ago.
Fast forward I sold it back to his son Brian Sanders so that it could stay in the family.
While it was Infantry and Brian is a Cavalry collector
I would bet money that he still has it today.
I remember that it had a very tall spike
Steve
 
KAGGR#1 said:
One of the best Saxon helmets that I had was an officer's that I bought from Paul Sanders some years ago.
Fast forward I sold it back to his son Brian Sanders so that it could stay in the family.
While it was Infantry and Brian is a Cavalry collector
I would bet money that he still has it today.
I remember that it had a very tall spike
Steve
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This one I believe:

20250619_235950.jpg
 
Personally after 40+ years of "treasure hunting" I have only owned 2 Saxe helmets. One of these was an M15 which unfortunately had to be sold and the other that I still have has brass fittings and clearly marked to IR 178, dated 1896, IIB, 5K. The construction of the helmet though suggests pre 1895 to me....high dome and thick leather, wide brass visor trim. Anyway, the fittings on the helmet match the markings, no extra wappen holes and I bought it at a local antique fair decades ago.
 
I was thinking of the original question the other day. I have not seen wurt m15s for years. Now I have seen 4 for sale in the last 2 months.

Last year, I say at least 5 Saxon M15 that I can remember.

Not sure, but it seems to go in cycles. For example, IR92 helmets are rare, but they do exist. They are just in collections for 30 years before they come on the market. It's the same thing with SS stuff if you're a WW2 collector.

I've seen a bunch of M15 Unlan helmets recently. Why is this so? No idea. Maybe economy.

Gabe
 
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ussguppy said:
I was thinking of the original question the other day. I have not seen wurt m15s for years. Now I have seen 4 for sale in the last 2 months.

Last year, I say at least 5 Saxon M15 that I can remember.

Not sure, but it seems to go in cycles. For example, IR92 helmets are rare, but they do exist. They are just in collections for 30 years before they come on the market. It's the same thing with SS stuff if you're a WW2 collector.

I've seen a bunch of M15 Unlan helmets recently. Why is this so? No idea. Maybe economy.

Gabe
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An enlisted feldgrau Saxon Uhlan M 1915 showed up at a show in Europe .
It was purchased by Helmut Weitze and later placed on his site for sale
From Memory, it sold right away .
The Saxon helmet hard to get is a Saxon General
Steve
 
cptbob said:
Maybe it's because Saxony was behind the Iron Curtain.
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Years ago there was a dealer who came from Germany to the early OVMS shows
Even before the Drawbridge shows
Von Mertschinsky ( my spelling ? )
He had a connection in Russian Zone ( Saxony ) way before the wall fell
He always had Saxon items for sale
At one show the dealer was selling a Saxon Uhlan officers fangschnur to Paul Sanders
Bob Palko walked up and hear the asking price
Palko said ; "That's a hundred dollars a foot "
Paul bought it
Steve
 
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