2nd Pattern Tropical Pith Helmet

Product Description: This 2nd Pattern Tropical Pith Helmet is an unissued piece. The condition of the exterior rates as near mint, with perfect felt that retains its original dark color. The cork helmet itself is sound and retains its original shape. The gray/green leather edging around the helmet’s rim shows only extremely light handling wear and age. This attractive original pith helmet is complete with its original aluminum Heer emblems. The eagle and swastika emblem is perfect, pristine, with full original finish. The national colors tricolor emblem shows some slight paint flaking. The interior of this helmet is very clean, with no sign it was ever worn. The sweatband retains its original light blond color. The green leather chin strap is broken, but appears to be all there, held together with the original buckle. There is an old red label inside the sweatband. If not for the broken chin strap, this 2nd Pattern Tropical Pith Helmet would easily rate as a near mint example. It displays extremely well, and remains in excellent condition.

Historical Description: The pith helmet (Tropenhelm) is one of the most iconic parts of the tropical uniform worn by German personnel in WWII. Besides being worn by Rommel’s Afrikakorps, pith helmets were also worn in all areas on the Southern Front where tropical uniforms were issued, including Italy, the Mediterranean, and southern Russia. Pith helmets were part of the uniform issued by the German Army, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, and the Waffen-SS. The chief visible difference among the pith helmets used by these various organizations, were the metal badges affixed to each side. These were made in the style of the branch decals used on the steel helmet. Early pith helmets were made with a twill fabric outer covering. Later, second pattern examples were covered with felt. As German troops withdrew from Afrika, many pith helmets sat unissued in warehouses, where they were recovered by Allied forces at the end of the war; at one time, later pattern examples were relatively common. With the passage of time, complete original examples, especially in nice condition, have become much harder to find.

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