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Introduction

After the introduction of the German steel helmet (Stahlhelm), the number of head injuries due to bullets and shrapnel's reduced dramatically, because of the much better protection compared with the leather spiked helmet.

Stirnpanzer

It was found however that further protection was required, especially when fighting in static positions, like trenches or observation posts. Also, Machine gunners were likely to require more additional head protection. The frontal plate protected the wearer mainly against small rifle infantry fire from a distance of 50 meters or more. In 1916 a steel helmet plate was introduced. This 4 mm thick plate had an average weight of 4kg and was fixed on the steel helmet, using the two air ventilation lugs on both sides of the helmet plate. A leather strap went around the helmet to better fix the plate against the helmets body. Usually, the plates found today have no straps or have imitation straps attached to it.

The helmet plate was not stamped mechanically as the steel helmet itself, but was most probably manufactured manually. It's typical shape and material used, gives the plate the sound of a bell.

Different helmet shapes existed, but the helmet plate was made very universal, so it could fit on all sizes.

Strange enough, during the years of collecting, we found a genuine helmet plate which was of a significantly larger size than normal.

Because of it's weight, the helmet plates were very unpopular and were not used very often When worn, it was only for a short period of time. Not many photographs exists with soldiers wearing the Stirnpanzer, and when they do, it are often posed pictures. Not many Stirnpanzers survived the war. Because they were heavy and bulky, these items were thrown away very often on the battlefield or after the hostilities. It's active use with front line troops stopped when the war became more mobile in 1917.

It is estimated that about 50.000 helmet plates were manufactured during the war.

Markings on a Stirnpanzer

Markings Several markings can usually be found, but are not mandatory. A good marked stirnpanzer however can be an indication of it's originality. Markings found are either regimental markings - but these are extremely rare because of the difficulty of stamping letters in the metal surface , serial number and/or the sign of the manufacturer. (bell type).

Together with the Stirnpanzer, came the Steel Breast Plates (Grabenpanzer or Sappenpanzer), which is described in an different article.

References :

Stirnpanzer : la plaque de blindage du casque allemand Modeèle 1916, p12 AMIlitaria n° 1, Maurice Sublet

The history of the German Steel helmet 1916 - 1945, Ludwig Baer, Bender publications