M-1 “Euroclones”
by Roger V. Lucy

After W.W.II the US M-1 helmet was adopted by many armies of the NATO alliance, as well as by non-NATO countries who wished to show their sympathies did not lie with the East Bloc. Within NATO, the main exceptions were countries such as Britain Italy and Portugal, which had their own tried and true designs from W.W.II, and France which adopted a helmet clearly based on the M-1, the Mle-51, but was sufficiently different in form. Several countries undertook domestic production of the M-1, both for their own armies and for export.

The following describes these “Euroclones” to help the collector identify them.

Stahlhelm 2 (M.58)

When the Austrian Bundesheer was reformed in 1955, it was initially equipped with U.S. made M-1 helmets.

Production of a national copy of this helmet began in 1958. The retroactively named Helm 2 weighed about 1.4 kg. The outer body was made of non-magnetic manganese steel, with a rear butted rim, the chin-strap was bar-tacked to hinged lugs.

The resinated fabric (from circa 1969, thermoplastic) liner had a black leather chin-strap, an insignia eyelet on the upper left side; and brown-coloured Riddel type webbing. The Helm 2 was painted grey, and could be worn with a wide meshed knotted net and a mottled camouflage cover.

Stahlhelm 1 (M.75)

By 1975 changes had been introduced both for new production helmets, and as retrofits.

The M-1 type chin-strap buckle was replaced by the quick-release type used on the German Helm1A1.

The Riddel suspension was replaced by a German type leather crown with 10 (later 9) unvented tabs, on a fibreglass band.

The badge eyelet was suppressed, and the base colour of the liner and steel body changed from grey to olive.

Motorcyclists (Motorradfahrer) were issued liners fitted with two rear vents, a black leather curtain, fastened with a clasp buckle and a Styrofoam padded cloth and, initially, with the Riddle type suspension.

A special cut-down parachutists (Fallschirmspringer) liner with a similar curtain, and a ring fastened, cupped chin-strap was also issued.

Along with later Motorradfahrer helmets these had the leather suspension of the Innenhelm 1, with Styrofoam padding.

A special plastic crash helmet for AFV crew was also designed, which could also be worn beneath the steel body of the Stahlhelm 1 or 2.

Austrian helmets often have a white interior stamp with the maker's (Ulbrichts Witwe of Schwanenstedt) logo U.Sch. and date.

This was also impressed in the plastic liners, (although these may also bear the logos of other manufacturers).

The size and a black date stamp of the Heeres Bekleidungsamt (HBA) may also be found.

In addition to supplying the Austrian army, Ulbrichts also exported M-1 clones to, inter alia, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.

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