M1915 Pickelhaube - Prussia
In 1915, Germany was still in the process of changing their uniforms from the fanciful parade style holdovers from the 19th century to the more logical wartime necessities. Perhaps the most dramatic of these changes, prior to the introduction of the steel helmet, was changing the 1895 Pickelhaube with its lustrous brass fittings to field gray painted steel. This change helped camouflage the soldiers in the field, but was primarily done to conserve brass, which was vital to the production of artillery shells. Below is a well preserved example of this mid-war piece of headgear. While more toned down than its older brass brother, it still retains the look and style of an earlier time which was wholly unprepared for modern warfare.
The Pickelhaube body is made completely of leather and is fitted with steel trim, a removable steel spike and base plate, and the steel wappen (front plate) in the form of the Prussian eagle with the motto "Mit Gott fur Konig und Vaterland" (With God for King and Country). The original chinstrap remains with its fitting made of brass, clearly a piece salvaged from an earlier model Pickelhaube. The strap holds the two original cockades to the body. On the right ear side is the cockade bearing the national colors of red, white and black. On the left ear side is the cockade bearing the Prussian colors of black and white. The liner of the Pickelhaube remains in wonderful condition and still bears its size stamp (size 52 and a half) and a regimental marking, R.J.R.23 II.B. This particular piece was worn by a member of the 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion (placing him in Company 5, 6, 7 or 8).
The 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment was part of the German 12th Reserve Division, which saw intense combat throughout the war. It suffered heavily during the invasion of Belgium in 1914. In March of 1916, it went into action at Verdun. Like many German divisions at Verdun it was slaughtered. The entire division was withdrawn from Verdun in May, having lost 71% of its infantry. After less than two months rest it was sent to the Somme where it fought on the line for two weeks until it was completely exhausted. An example of its losses, from the 17th of March to the 5th of July the 5th Company of the 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment received no less than 326 men as replacements. As the war continued, the division fought and suffered at Flanders, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and Lys.
In 1915, Germany was still in the process of changing their uniforms from the fanciful parade style holdovers from the 19th century to the more logical wartime necessities. Perhaps the most dramatic of these changes, prior to the introduction of the steel helmet, was changing the 1895 Pickelhaube with its lustrous brass fittings to field gray painted steel. This change helped camouflage the soldiers in the field, but was primarily done to conserve brass, which was vital to the production of artillery shells. Below is a well preserved example of this mid-war piece of headgear. While more toned down than its older brass brother, it still retains the look and style of an earlier time which was wholly unprepared for modern warfare.
The Pickelhaube body is made completely of leather and is fitted with steel trim, a removable steel spike and base plate, and the steel wappen (front plate) in the form of the Prussian eagle with the motto "Mit Gott fur Konig und Vaterland" (With God for King and Country). The original chinstrap remains with its fitting made of brass, clearly a piece salvaged from an earlier model Pickelhaube. The strap holds the two original cockades to the body. On the right ear side is the cockade bearing the national colors of red, white and black. On the left ear side is the cockade bearing the Prussian colors of black and white. The liner of the Pickelhaube remains in wonderful condition and still bears its size stamp (size 52 and a half) and a regimental marking, R.J.R.23 II.B. This particular piece was worn by a member of the 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion (placing him in Company 5, 6, 7 or 8).
The 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment was part of the German 12th Reserve Division, which saw intense combat throughout the war. It suffered heavily during the invasion of Belgium in 1914. In March of 1916, it went into action at Verdun. Like many German divisions at Verdun it was slaughtered. The entire division was withdrawn from Verdun in May, having lost 71% of its infantry. After less than two months rest it was sent to the Somme where it fought on the line for two weeks until it was completely exhausted. An example of its losses, from the 17th of March to the 5th of July the 5th Company of the 23rd Reserve Infantry Regiment received no less than 326 men as replacements. As the war continued, the division fought and suffered at Flanders, Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele and Lys.