Bundesrepublik Bundeswehr band playing "Berliner Luft" at the Reichstag

[Long Thrust VI]

Gentlemen:

Here's a fairly recent video of a Bundeswehr band playing "Berliner Luft" at the Reichstag. Notice the helmets worn appear to be the new Kevlar models.

Edited December 7, 2013 by Long Thrust VI

[SteveL]

John, the helmets worn by the band will be the lightweight version of the model 826 Gefechtshelm, as worn by ceremonial units of the Wachtbataillon.....the "SH 99" helmet, available in gloss finish for parades etc and matt finish for more sombre occasions such as funerals.

Prost ! Steve.

Edited December 8, 2013 by speedytop

[Long Thrust VI]

Thank you, Steve! Hanging out on this site with you guys is a true learning experience. Once my move is complete I'll have access to my resource books & will be able to participate more. In the meantime, I'll keep reading & learning.

[speedytop]

Hi John,

"... but a different style than was worn in the early 1960s."

This style was worn several years:

Superior immediately after leaving the official car during receipt of the report

Uwe

[Long Thrust VI]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your replies. My only experience interacting with BW Soldiers was at Wildflecken, FRG, the winter of 1963. Usually, they wore high, pull-on, "dice box" boots with adjustment strap/buckle near the top of the boot shaft. Trouser legs were bloused over boot tops. Some formations (mountain troops?) wore lace-up, high-top shoes with British-style gators. BW Soldiers wore several uniforms, including the infamous "velvet louse" heavy wool, in olive color while on duty. Most off-duty Soldiers, wore "class A" uniform: a light gray jacket over darker gray trousers, a "peaked" cap, & low quarter shoes. Another off-duty uniform, which was particularly sharp, was a modified "class A" uniform worn with an M-43 cap, belt, & boots. Mountain troops wore short gray "Ike"-style jackets with adjustment laces near the waste. In my experience, off-duty officers were always seen wearing garrison "envelope" caps.

Regards,

John

[Gordon Craig]

Gentlemen:

Here's a fairly recent video of a Bundeswehr band playing "Berliner Luft" at the Reichstag. Notice the helmets worn appear to be the new Kevlar models.

'>

- Enjoy!

Perhaps someone can provide a definitive year the Bundeswehr gave up their traditional "dice box" pull-on boots for lace-up boots as worn by most Western armies. It appears the German guard units still blouse their trouser legs over high pull-on boots -- but a different style than was worn in the early 1960s. Thank you.

My regards.

John

[Gordon Craig]

Gentlemen:

Here's a fairly recent video of a Bundeswehr band playing "Berliner Luft" at the Reichstag. Notice the helmets worn appear to be the new Kevlar models.

'>

- Enjoy!

Perhaps someone can provide a definitive year the Bundeswehr gave up their traditional "dice box" pull-on boots for lace-up boots as worn by most Western armies. It appears the German guard units still blouse their trouser legs over high pull-on boots -- but a different style than was worn in the early 1960s. Thank you.

My regards.

John

Edited December 11, 2013 by Gordon Craig

[Long Thrust VI]

Thank you for posting these photos, Gordon.

Please note the lining of these light-weight helmets is very similar to that of the old U.S. M-1 helmet liner, as is the chin strap & "keeper." The helmet, itself, seems to be made of a similar fiber material.

Regards,

John

[SteveL]

This lightweight helm is made in one size, and is of strips of fabric embedded in resin all formed in a mould at high pressure............

Prost ! Steve.

Edited December 12, 2013 by SteveL

[Gordon Craig]

John,

Yes the liners in these helmets are similar to the ones used in the U.S. M1 helmet but not the same. They are like those used in the BW Stahlhelm (M1 clone) helmet liner. The BW Stahlhelm was a modification of the U.S. M1 helmet but the Stahlhelm was slightly different in shape. This helmet, as Steve says, is of a different type of construction than the liner of the U.S. M1 or the BW Stahlhelm. I'll cover the Stahlhelm liners as worn by the WB and the bandsmen in a few days. In the meantime, here is a link to the BWB information sheets on the G Helm Repraesentation for you to look at.

Regards,

Gordon

http://daten.bwb.org/AG-Bund/TL/daten/84150269.pdf

Edited December 13, 2013 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

Gentlemen,

To complete what was said here about helmets worn by the WB and bands here is a matt finished helmet as worn at funerals by the WB.

Regards,

Gordon

[Gordon Craig]

The first light weight helmets worn by the WB and band members was simply the liner for the BW M1 helmet painted the appropriate colour. Pictures of the liner are below. This liner is in the original issued colour.

Regards,

Gordon

Edited December 17, 2013 by Gordon Craig

[Gordon Craig]

On the 22nd of May 19990, a new "helmet Protocol service" was introduced. It was made of plastic and was introduced because stocks of the earlier M1 liners were exhausted. These helmets cost DM 30 each. They came in a shinny and matt finish. They remained in wear until the G Helm was introduced.

(Ludwig Baer "Vom Stahlhelm zum Gefechtshelm")

Regards,

Gordon

Edited December 17, 2013 by Gordon Craig