Wehrmacht Infantry helmet covers, question (1 Viewer)

[Hatman]

Hi all, I hope you had a great weekend! I have a question about the new Wehrmacht infantry tank riders. I picked up WS- 287, 288 & 290 yesterday. Their helmet covers looked very different than any of the ones I have seen before. They almost look like "boonie hats". Was this something used late in the war, or maybe on the Eastern Front only? Any input on this would be greatly appreciated. I perched a couple of them on the back of my Normandy Panzer 4 IV H. Looks really nice too!

 

[Guy]

Hi all, I hope you had a great weekend! I have a question about the new Wehrmacht infantry tank riders. I picked up WS- 287, 288 & 290 yesterday. Their helmet covers looked very different than any of the ones I have seen before. They almost look like "boonie hats". Was this something used late in the war, or maybe on the Eastern Front only? Any input on this would be greatly appreciated. I perched a couple of them on the back of my Normandy Panzer 4 IV H. Looks really nice too!

During ww2, German Wehrmacht ( and Waffen SS)produced a variety of cloth helmet covers designed to aid in concealment.They were produce for all seasons and many were made reversible.A lot of troops made their own fixed on the helmet with a rubber band, a leather strap, a piece of string, etc ....Helmet camo had many variations, typically anything a soldier could find would be used their was not a standard for achieving a camo helmet as the picture will proof . I used a self made winter type camo helmet cover in my M34 dio.
guy

 

[PanzerAce1944]

In the early stages of the war the German Army used the Leather straps on their helmets. It appears actual helmet "covers" were used around end of 1941 forward.The covers appearing as though they looked floppy looking or as mentioned as appearing to look as a boonie hat were the types that were not standard issue by the Army, but added by the individual soldier on a case by case basis. The last few years of the war brought the actual manufactured Camo type covers, such as the Oak Leaf pattern, etc........ which fit snugly on the WWII German Helmets.

 

[Hatman]

Thanks very much, gentlemen! I appreciate the reply. I guess as in any war the troops have to improvise to take care of the things they need. The sun beating down on their helmets must have been very uncomfortable, putting some cloth on it to help absorb the heat must have helped a lot. Guy, the winter vignette with the machine gun was beautiful, very realistic! Thanks again for the info!:smile2:

 

[Hatman]

Here is a couple of photos................