Books, Maps and Photographs. China, Ceramics and Glass. Tel: +44 (0) 1752 221443, or visit us at: Parade Antiques, 27 New Street, Barbican, Plymouth, PL1 2NB. WWII German Italian Rare Pressed Fibre Tropical Helmet. A rare and unusual officer’s tropical pith helmet. It is a rare pressed fibre helmet that was made in Germany in the early 1930s and issued to the Navy, as Germany didn’t have any colonies by then. Unlike the later Pith helmets that were used by the Afrika Korps, these examples are very hard to find. The helmet started life with a German owner, as shown by the name HALLMANN written inside the liner. This helmet has, however, changed nationality. It has been acquired by an Italian Fascist soldier and has had the Italian military badges added to it. On the front is the gilt brass bade of the Alpini Artillery (Light Mountain troops). The black cross, instead of a number, means that the officer was unassigned to any particular regiment. On the side of the helmet is a large round cloth cockade in red-white-green (Italian State colours), with a Gilt metal Fasces emblem in the middle. The helmet is moulded and looks similar to the US WWII version. It is made of pressed fibre, which is strengthened and waterproofed in phenolic resin. The inside has a leather liner, which attaches to some resin coated blades, not unlike the style inside german helmets, via cloth loops. The inside of the helmet is lined in red felt. The helmet has been blancoed. The leather strap is brown with a sliding buckle. Very unusual and rare. Size: 34 x 29 x 16 cm (13 1/2 x 11 1/2 x 6 1/4 inches) Head Size: 57 Weight: 285 g. _gsrx_vers_625 GS 6.9.7 (625). The item “WWII German Italian Rare Pressed Fibre Tropical Helmet” is in sale since Wednesday, February 17, 2016. This item is in the category “Collectables\Militaria\World War II (1939-1945)\Helmets/ Hats”. The seller is “paradeantiques_online” and is located in Plymouth. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Era: 1914-1945
- Clothing Type: Helmets/ Hats
- Country/ Organization: Germany
- Service: Navy
- Type: Uniform/ Clothing
- Issued/ Not-Issued: Issued
- Conflict: World War II (1939-1945)