I’ve heard the 2nd pattern piths were likely used in the Crete and Malta campaigns and possibly Italy as well.

A lot of them were replaced by the M 1940 tropical field cap instead. which I read, was generally more liked by the troops.

Fun fact: Pith is the soft heartwood of the sola plant. Cork was also used.

I’ve got one of the green afrikakorp field caps. Anything afrikakorp is always cool, but anything green is even better to me

A lot of German tropical helmets where captured from the Dutch manufacturer when the Netherlands fell. They had been produced for an order for the the South African army and not delivered.

Yea that’s a 2nd model, most were found in Italy and the Mediterranean. I have a 1st model that are the ones with different “patches of fabric” similar to a football and how it has the black grooves, it’s not all from 1 material, it’s like 6 or so materials sewn into it. Still nice, but the 2nd models are super minty since they never saw service, and when they did they were rebranded for Itay

I know it’s off subject kinda, but people would be really surprised the amount of equipment that’s never been issued that is still being found today. It’s been found in places from farms, factories, warehouses, and military bases. It might seem strange and people wonder how it happens, and what normally happens it’ll be put into storage, and the storage rooms it’s put in and more and more stuff is stored in front of it, and whoever put it there gets transferred to another base and it just becomes forgotten kinda like the scene from Indiana Jones movie where the Ark of the Cov is put in a massive warehouse and forgotten about. 😢 The really interesting thing is even till this day they’re finding Weapons Cache all over European cities, towns, farmland, and mountains. That was put into every NATO country and also in Warsaw Pact countries. It was put there by the CIA/DIA with the knowledge of certain members of the military and other stay behind 5th Column fighters. The reason was during the Cold War there was a chance of the ussr overrunning NATO countries especially Germany, and we knew that we had to have preplanned insurgents to basically become partisan fighters like the French Resistance fighters were in WW2. We had to have them harassing the ussr to slow them down until America was able to start sending massive reinforcements to their British ally’s until America, the uk and her commonwealth countries could mount an invasion to take Europe back. If you look up about it and read about it it’s amazing the amount of equipment that’s hidden all over Europe even till this very day

My grandfather was in WW1 and 2. I still got his uniform and it almosy looks like childrens clothes from how small he was compared to me. I cant even get 1 arm into it.

Them 'Krauts sure are Smart.

Awesomely outstanding

Very cool! Thanks!

I remember the ads in various magazines, during the early 60’s for these helmets. Yup, they were unissued. I ordered one and I believe they were $5.95. I sold it years ago for some reason. Also, during that same time there were mint Luftwaffe wool hats with insignia, fold down ear flaps, two button. They had same thing but Hitler Youth patch. Same prices. Still have mine but it’s not mint condition anymore as I wore it a lot. Different source had mint Luftwaffe wool coats. The ones with short waist and hidden buttons. I think they were like $25. The one I bought was Sargent rank. Some unknown reason I sold that too years ago. Those were the days😂

The pickelhaube helmets werent really small, rather they have usually shrunk over the last century. 👍

I have a Luftwaffe Afrika Pith Helmet with Luftwaffe Eagle

There are 1000s it mint ones A big lot of them where found in Antwerp Belgium

I've seen and wore a DAK pith helmet

The Germans sure did know how to design and make uniforms

This is awesome

Cool, the German bad guy hat from Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Damn why can't I find a construction hard hat that can do that lmao

I have that exact helmet

J ai exactement le même , même condition , c rdt vrai qu il a de la gueule 👍

For the African campaign they were ammo rich but pith poor. 😂

Army Shield ? is Red white and Blue USA Army shield too❤ Eagle more like Mil style

Price?

My local PD has these as part of their uniforms. Kinda weird tbh.

I mean it was hunger and disease that killed the most in ww1

Wouldn't the stud from the vent poke into the top of the wearer's head? Looks very painful.

Only a German could over engineera pith helmet lol neat feature tho

historically worn by losers

The gay safari called They said your helment is too gay, even for them