M15 Steel Wappen
Joseph P. Robinson.
| In 1980 a collector named Lector Orrick started to put together a study on steel helmet plates. This was published in the Journal Kaiserzeit, and this article expands upon that. The question that we seek to answer is which helmets actually had M15 gray, steel counterparts. The requirement is to find an actual steel helmet plate that is magnetic, not a prewar brass paint over. The true test is to find a picture of each of these helmets. This is an enlisted phenomena for a helmet that was introduced in July of 1915. It was the last pickelhaube in use before steel helmets took over. There are several categories we will deal with: 1.) A documented example in a collection with a picture. 2.)An allegedly documented Wappen is from the Orrick articles. 3.)Undocumented examples. I am far from satisfied with the order and content of Wappen listed. However, I decided to stay with the Orrick listing as that way I could match up the documentation with his list. I know his methodology is not even alphabetical. Perhaps I will change it in the future.
Rather than list all of the different helmet plate types I tried to list only the sizes once. For instance, the 95 mm Prussian line eagle was used on several helmets. Rather than list them all I put down only the 95 mm Prussian line eagle. This includes no difference between gilt and silver Wappen. When it came to gray steel original color did not matter. I did this while trying to keep the original methodology. It did not always work and it doesn’t always make sense. Tony Schnurr has explained a great measuring technique that can standardize Wappen measurements in the following forum thread: http://pickelhaubes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45 This entire article is based on pictures from other peoples collections. John O’Connor and Jim Turinetti graciously allowed me to use their line drawings from their excellent work “Imperial German Headgear”. You can purchase this work from the authors at: www.kaiserhelmets.com A review of the work is located at: http://www.pickelhauben.net/books/Turinetti.html The number of M15 helmets in my collection is zero. This is about research. Please send any corrections or additions I can use the advice. We can certainly use the pictures! |
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| Infantry | ||
| Garde Eagle with Star |  |
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| Semper Talis Ribbon Banner |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Grenadier Eagle — wide winged | 
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| Grenadier Eagle — 1655 |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| 1626 ribbon banner |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| FWR Eagle |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Grenadier Eagle — 22 March 1797 |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Grenadier Eagle– Colberg 1807 |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| line eagle with the initials FR
115 mm |
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| line eagle — Peninsula Waterloo |  |
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| line eagle — Waterloo |  |
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| line eagle– Swedish banner — IR 34 |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| line eagle — La Belle Alliance |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| line eagle –Mesa de Ibor |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Mecklenburg Strelitz |  |
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| Mecklenburg Schwerin |  |
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| Oldenburg |  |
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| Braunschweig running horse |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Braunschweig skull |  |
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| Anhalt |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Saxon Duchy 94th |  |
One wappen without a helmet sold on eBay for $2000.
no picture available — yet |
| Saxon Duchy 95th, 153rd |  |
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| Saxon Duchy 96th |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Saxon infantry
104 mm |
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| Saxon 108th- shako
82 mm |
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| Baden |  |
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| Baden 109th |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Hessian |  |
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| Hessian double wreath — 115th |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| 1621 ribbon banner — 115th |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Hessian — 1697 — 1897 |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Wurrtemberg
125 mm |
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| Bavaria
110 mm with significant variants |
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| Jager shako | ||
| Guard Star |  |
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| Peninsula Waterloo — 10th |  |
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| Mecklenburg Schwerin | |
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| Saxon —
82 mm |
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| Marine infantry |  |
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| Württemberg Shako Star |  |
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| Heavy Cavalry | ||
| Guard Star |  |
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| Saxon Guard Star |  |
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| Eagle — Pro Gloria |  |
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| Eagle — Hohenfriedberg |  |
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| line Eagle
webbing between wings and legs |
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| Bavarian Cavalry
145 mm Oddly,Orrick did not differentiate this helmet. The consensus at that time appears to be that the mounted troops still had vine leaves. |
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| Dragoons | ||
| Dragoon eagle JZP |  |
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| Dragoon Eagle — Peninsula Waterloo |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Dragoon Eagle — Waterloo |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Dragoon Eagle — Oldenburg |  |
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| Wurrtemberg — 26th |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Guard Eagle — no star |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Bavarian cavalry– intertwined branches?!?! |  |
This was documented in 1980 by Lector Orrick. Recent correspondence in 2016 confirms that this did not exist! Thank you Lector. |
This was in Kube auction 112 – depot stamp and all. |
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| Hussars | ||
| line banner with dip |  |
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| Skull first and second |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| FWR 7th |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| banner 15th |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| skull and banner 17th |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Ulan | ||
| line Prussian eagle
95 mm |
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| 95 mm | |
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UNDOCUMENTED
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Not differentiated by Orrick UNDOCUMENTED
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| The picture on the right and the 13th Ulan Wappen was undocumented by Orrick. The photograph is located on page 40 of Lacarde’s volume 2 and the helmet resides at Fort de la Pompelle.. |  |
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| Wurt Uhlan
95 mm |
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UNDOCUMENTED |
| Bav Uhlan | ||
| Artillery | ||
| Penn,Waterloo,
Gohrde |
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| FR Colberg |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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| Penn,Waterloo,
Gohrde-Colberg |
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UNDOCUMENTED
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| FWR Colberg |  |
UNDOCUMENTED
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collection Dr Thomas Fritsch, Germany |
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| What is this?
Seems to be original may be one-of-a-kind? |
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| What is this?
It is the only officer one I have seen. Not magnetic–not steel. |
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| Contributors include Randy Trawnik, James LeBrasseur, Ron Levin, John O’Connor, Jim Turinetti, Bruno Peault, Bernard Vitte, Jean-Pierre Gilotin, Tony Schnurr, Dr Thomas Fritsch, Martin Vear, Ralph Anthony Bobsin Jr,Chip Minx, Philippe Quesnay,Philippe Deveaux, Michel Morel, | ||
