M15 Reserve Officer's pickelhaube Würtemberg

[Adler 1]

A while ago, I posted a Bavarian M15 Artillerie officer’s pickelhaube with removable kugel and chinscales. This one is of the same type of construction.

It’s a M15 Pickelhaube for a Reserve Offizier der Infanterie from Würtemberg. This helmet has also the same differences with the M95 Pickelhaube.

In 1915 the new pickelhaube for all ranks was introduced. The M15 with gray metal fittings, had a removable spike (or kugel) and a leather chinstrap on M91 sideposts. To have the same appearance (with helmet cover) as the enlisted model, the new officer’s model was introduced.

The M15 officer’s model had also a removable spike with bayonet fitting and M91 sideposts. Hereby the officer was able to remove the spike and change the chinscales by a leather chinstrap when necessary. By doing so, the officer could be less spotted amongst the regular soldiers.

The metal fittings of the M15 were in fact the same as the M95, but inferior materials were used to conserve more precious metals as brass… They received some goldwash instead of being mercury guilded.

In this case, just look at the spike, spike base and the rear spine, where almost all of the goldwash is gone…

On the other hand, this helmet’s wappen is still a guilded specimen. It has also the inscription on the bandeau and therefore the reserve cross has none.

Most of the time the shell of the M15 was made of fiber, but this one was made of leather.

Enjoy the pics…

Adler 1

Edited August 26, 2013 by Adler 1

[Chris Boonzaier]

I always wonder if the guys had to buy a completely new helmet plate, or if they just brought them in to a jewller who added an EK shape once the guy was no longer active.

It would seem to be a waste of money to buy a completely new one when the EK was just an add on anyway...

[Adler 1]

Thanks for your reply Chris!

It was indeed a waste of money to buy a complete new helmet plate, but in those days the prices were more about materials than about labour... certainly during wartime when materials even got scarcer.

Normally (in peacetime) the officer who went into reserve had to change at least the helmet plate by one without the motto and the reserve cross should be with the motto. Sometimes the cross is embedded in the helmet plate (see picture of a reserve dragoner)...

Adler 1