Egyptian Army current use of East German M1956 helmet

[ChrisW]

The Egyptian military used small numbers of the East German M1956 helmet during the 1960s/early 1970s, and some were worn by the Interior Ministry's Central Security Forces into the 1990s. But I'm surprised to see a regular Army soldier in Cairo wearing one in 2012. Then again, not much about Egypt surprises me any more.

CAIRO, EGYPT - JUNE 17: Egyptian army soldiers stand guard as Egyptian women arrive and depart afer casting their vote at a polling station on June 17, 2012 in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptians went to the polls today, for the second round of voting for the presidential elections. Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled that the Islamist-led Parliament must be immediately dissolved, and also upheld the right of Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister, Ahmed Shafiq, to run for president. Egyptian candidates Mohamed Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq are pegged against each other in the second round of voting for the country's president to be held on the 16th and 17th of June. (Photo by Daniel Berehulak /Getty Images)