History

A steel helmet was designed that was specifically developed for paratroopers. Next to protecting the wearer from bullets and shrapnel, it was designed to protect the head from hard knocks that can occur on air drops. The peculiar shape was chosen in order to reduce the risk of the helmet fouling harness lines. Not only the outside differs from the standard steel helmets, the inside liner also had a unique design.

Helmets used in tropical climate areas often received a tan-coloured repaint. Sometimes the paint had sand mixed in. In wintery climate areas the helmets were often white-washed. Camouflage paratrooper helmets exist as well.

Just like the regular steel helmets, the insignia painted onto the paratrooper helmets were the Luftwaffe eagle on the left side and the tri-colour shield emblem on the right side. And just as with the regular steel helmets, the tri-colour shield was abolished in the summer of 1940. However, this was not always adhered to.

Since the Heer (Army) formed their own paratrooper unit, these helmets can be encountered with the army eagle decal as well.