Very rare GERMAN M-16 STEEL HELMET w. camouflage paint

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Highly rare exemplar of a German WW I. M 16 STEEL HELMET with the original camouflage paint. The wearer was killed in action during the battle of Amiens in 1918. SPECIFICATIONS: Country of Origin: Germany Date: 1918 Combat Action / Armed Forces: World War I. battle of Amiens 1918 / German army (Infantry) Type: Stahlschutzhelm, Modell 1916 Condition: Original as found condition - the leather straps are removed. NO RESTORATION ! Please wait until the pictures are fully loaded, because they illustrate the condition of the item very accurately. Refer in this context to my text "Condition Reports" that you will find in the lower grey part of this page. I guarantee, that this is an ORIGINAL M 16 steel helmet . No copie, no falsification or anything else.... As early as in 1915 the German army command was aware of the requirement of a new headpiece for their soldiers. Because of the insufficient head protection and the closely linked high amount of severe injuries to the head, a steel helmet made of chromium-nickel steel was developed. The first 25 000 exemplars received the fifth army in Verdun in January 1916 by command of the chief of the highest army command, Erich von Falkenhayn. After the successful test the mass production of this helmet called "Stahlschutzhelm, Modell 1916" (steel protection helmet, model 1916) started in April on the same year.Even 1917 these new steel helmets were still rare at the front. Only 20 exemplars were provided for a whole "Batterie". In July 1918 the German army command let producing serially the helmets with camouflage paint.To minimize the weight of the helmet, made in four different sizes, it was produced with a wall thickness of only one millimetre. Assumedly this was the reason why the wearer of the helmet on hand had to die.He fell at the Somme (river) during the tank battle in Amiens (August 8, 1918) due to adverse fire. I assume - but I'm not sure - that it could have been a shell splinter. The bloody leather lining was removed. It only remains the memorial of this dreadful event. As a result of the regulations of the Treaty of Versailles most of the steel helmets of the Great War were destroyed, only a few remained... Fraudulent e-mail activity is increasing. For quite some time now, all my eBay auctions have been private. This step is meant to assure my customer's security, as many of them used to be contacted by deceitful sellers whose offers were of a dubious kind. As I take the view that my buyers as well as all under bidders have a right to privacy and data protection, I was forced to decide on this measure. Please visit my other current auctions on eBay with more original military antiques. I will be happy to send you further information. Do not hesitate to send me an e-mail and I will be pleased to answer your questions quickly. Thank you and good luck in bidding! Military Antiques - Testimonials of the Culture History The human cultural history was always associated with warlike conflicts and formed exceedingly the progressing of history. The emergence of states like structures caused a fast advancement of weapons technology and special off fight armies arose. By means of military objects of long disappeared cultures and nations the degree of their civilizing development can be detected still nowadays.For a long time the military equipment objects and arms found their way into the important museums of the world. An ever increasing number of fanciers and adepts of the whole world dedicate themselves to the collection of these historical important relics. Good Customer Service - Friendly, Fast and Trustable! I set great store by good service to the customer. In case you have questions or comments please do not hesitate ... read more

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