The Yugoslav Ne44 helmet
by Bruno Murgia

We might wonder why this perhaps little known helmet’s name does not begin with the usual “M”. Well, in 1944, after the glorious Neretva battle, the partisans under Iosip Broz (communist leader known as “Tito”) expressed the wish to use a nationally produced helmet: until then, in fact, Serbian (first) and Yugoslav (later) armies used M15 and M26 Adrians provided by France, with which the Yugoslav Kingdom had stipulated an alliance in 1927. Not to mention Italian M15 and Austro-German M16/18 models, left over from the Great War, Czech M32s and German M35/40/42s used after the partition of 1941.

Austrian and German WWI and II helmets, all with cut down aprons, became the helmets of the first republican army in 1946.

Tito’s partisans’ project came to light only later, in 1952, at the Kragujevac(1) arsenal. At that moment in time Tito, heading one of the most powerful and best armed armies in Europe still organised along the partisan Korpus, was respected even by “uncle” Joseph Stalin, who had allowed Yugoslavia leave the Cominform without opposition.

In this period the Ne (Neretva) 44 was born, although we must point out that the official Yugoslav name was Slema 59 and that apparently Ne44 was the codename of the manufacturing plant.(2)

The helmet would enter production only in 1960 and distribution in 1961. It would equip the Yugoslav and then Serbian soldier up to the recent defeat of Slobodan Milosevic and the adoption of a nationally produced Kevlar helmet.

Aesthetically, the Ne44 is certainly a good looking helmet: sage green paint with stencilled front red star, it could be a Spanish M26, cut just a few centimetres shorter (seeing is believing), although it’s impossible not to compare it with the neighbouring Albanian (Chinese) GK80.

Remarkably, the suspension system is a perfect copy of the US M1 Riddel type (odd, but not unique on a non-NATO helmet), making it very comfortable and fully adjustable, thanks to its US copied fake-leather headband.

A second generation removable system was introduced later, made of better material similar to the US M65. This helps us in identifying two models (not completely identical externally either), which for simplicity we will name from now on as M59 and M59/85.(3)

The M59 has a thick greenish canvas chinstrap, about 2 cm wide and with a handy sage green sliding buckle (similar to the one on US liners).
A new slightly sturdier canvas chinstrap with two sliding buckles was later introduced; this is the one found on the majority of M59/85.

On this helmet the headband is of a noticeably thicker and better material, as are the three individually adjustable straps.

The most discerning eye notices that externally the M59/85, of the same colour and with the same stencilled red star, appears to be more compact: the back apron is less outwardly flared, while the visor has two slight curves on the sides.

On the M59 the canvas suspension system is virtually identical to the one on WW2 US M-1s. Three straps form loops are joined at the top by a string, which can be adjusted. There is also a strap around the circumference and deeper at the back, where the headband is attached to with clips. This way the helmet leans towards the back.

Alternatively, the headband can be attached to another canvas strap at the back: this neckband, which in the M59/85 is substituted by a plastic buckle on the main strap, has its own adjusting strap and allows the helmet to sit horizontally on the head.

The system is attached to the shell in six points, plus three for the neckband, with no rivets or air vents. The chinstrap is sewn on to the buckle and to one of the two rectangular rings welded to the inner shell.

It seems obvious that the Ne44 has undergone slight improvements, probably in the 1980’s, as the M59/85 system is more comfortable and the helmet is more stable.

With the breakdown of the Yugoslav federation, Serbian helmets were provided with a new emblem to cover the now obsolete red star: the two-headed Serbian eagle was a natural choice.

There are, however, similar emblems for the green helmet of the Air Force and the Police. The Ne44 for the Milicija was instead used with a camo bluish combat uniform, seen many times on the 1990’s news. It was therefore painted turquoise blue.
Furthermore, Croatia and Bosnia during their independence wars recycled Federal Army Ne44s without red star and often with national emblems.
That’s all: a straightforward and practical helmet, which in my opinion is one of the nicest European post-war helmets.

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