M.1895 Pickelhaube (Helm)

This is the classic German spiked helmet that most people identify with the German Soldier of World War I. In WWI reenacting, it is worn only for "walking-out" or at early-war (1914-1915) events. Although the official German term for the spiked helmet was „Helm", the Prussian Frontsoldat's slang for it was „Pickelhaube ".

From left to right: Original brass/leather Pickelhaub, brass/tin Pickelhaub, and a felt/sheet metal Pickelhaub

In 1914, the Pickelhaub would have been made of pressed leather with brightly polished brass trim and the Prussian Pickelhaub would have had an eagle emblem "Wappen" attached to the front, State and National Kokarden on the sides. When worn in the field, the helmet was worn with a canvas cover with the regiment's numbers sewn on the front in red felt numbers.

Original Überzug (canvas cover) from IR63!

Photo of an original IR63 Soldat wearing
a Pickelhaub mit Überzug

Very quickly the Germans realized the red letters were conspicuous and switched to green and then to no markings at all. The helmet also received a number of changes. Leather was needed for equipment, so helmet bodies switched to tin, sheet metal, and pressed wool felt in greys and greens. The metal trim was switched to grey-painted sheet metal instead of brass, and the spikes became removable as they were an impediment to movement in the trenches.

Original leather- bodied Pickelhaub with grey painted sheet metal hardware, originating from JR63!

Back