Stahlhelm1 (M.75): In the early 1970s changes had been introduced both for new production helmets, and as retrofits. The M1 type chin-strap. The Riddle suspension was replaced by a German-type leather crown with 10 (later 9) unvented tabs, on a fibreglass band. On most liners there were rows of vents in front of the leather crown, and crossed webbing straps over the top. |
Motorcyclists (Motorradfahrer) were issued liners fitted with two rear vents, a black leather curtain, fastened with a clasp buckle and a Styrofoam padded cloth and, initially, with the Riddle type suspension. A special plastic crash helmet for AFV crew was also designed, which could also be worn beneath the steel body of the Stahlhelm1 or 2. |
France
While the French Mle-51 differed in form from the M1 it is based on the same concept. The French firms Franck and Dunois also made export versions of the M1. Dunois offered one and two-piece M1s in both ground troops and airborne configurations, as well as a copy of the German Helm1A1 and a ballistic nylon version. Liners were made by Celeron and M. P. M. P Marseilles. |
Of the initial test order, Eskiltuna produced 27,500 steel bodies (unofficially dubbed the Schwedenhelm), in 1959. They had a lining, invented by Römer of Neu-Ulm, but also by the Schuberth-Werke of Braunschweig. The Innenausstattung FJ 60 (liner FJ 60) had a fibre or fibre glass lining band held by four rivets to the steel body with cork spacers to which was sewn a nine tongued leather crown, like the I-31. It was fixed by fourrivets into the lower part of the shell (two in front, two in back). –it is believed that says that liners with holes in the leather tongues were made by Schuberth, and those without holes by Römer. – Schuberth developed and introduced a new liner in 1960, that could be adjusted to three different sizes (53-55, 55-57, 57-61- the FJ 60 came in only two sizes), called the “Innenausstattung 60” ( I 60), later an Übergröße ( 61-64) was introduced.Based on its earlier work on the I 53 (used on the Bundesgenzschutz helmet) Schuberth’s top-mounted I 60, had a molded polyethylene cup with five descending struts which held a spring steel band to which an I 31 type crown was stapled. It was attached to a bolt inserted through the top of the helmet body. |
Helm1A1 or Helm Bodentruppen (modifiziert): In the 1970s the Bundeswehr tested various modified suspensions, and in February 1981, officially adopted the Helm1A1 (modifiziert). All subsequent helmets were built to this standard, while approximately 100,000 helmets per year were retrofitted on being returned to depots by released conscripts. Improvements were achieved by extending a sort of nape holder down the back side of the liner, so that it would hold better on the wearer’s head, as in a construction worker’s helmet. Also it was improved by providing it with a chin-strap fastened to the brim at three points, like the Israeli M1 clone. Technical details were designed in a VTL in 1982. Retrofitted Helm1A1s retain the peened over rivets for the old chin-strap clips. It was also produced in a gigantic “Übergröße” 73 for head sizes 62-66, using a shell that looks rather different to the normal sizes. |
Four vented screw bolts attached the liner and a four-point suspension (similar to that of old the FJ helmet but in green-brown leather) to the body. Designated the Helm1A1LL (Luftlandetruppe), the first orders were placed in November 1959, and the definitive design finalized in August 1961.
The Helm1A1 was also exported to Iran (painted sand) and the Helm1A1LL to Belgium. German firms such as LS, Schuberth and VDN also offered standard two piece M1s for export with resinated cloth, nylon and plastic liners and with both Riddle and cradle style webbing. Buyers included: Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and reportedly Turkey and various Persian Gulf states.The German firm Technologue also made an M1 clone from a ballistic nylon called Corlon, which was copied by a number of countries including Israel and South Korea. |