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I took the plunge
In an attempt to appease the ever growing desire to get helmets, I took the plunge on the one that grabbed me as I looked around for a nice M42.
It was being advertised as a Heer M42 with the remnants of the decal on the left side. But the name sent me hunting and did turn up the wearer of the helmet when he was with the Kreigsmarine. He was Polish, had been in the Polish Army when the war started, had been actually born in Germany, and was conscripted into the German Navy. He was captured in 1943 and because of his Polish background was recruited into the British Special Ops as well as the US OSS. He was one of 32 Poles who participated in operations behind the lines. So an amazing story turned up when I went hunting.
As for the helmet, it seems to have first appeared in an auction in 2018 and has changed hands a couple times already. I did see one comment on it questioning it's authenticity, but only one. Didn't find anything else, and as I said, it was the one that was beckoning me to find out who that name was attached to. The guy ended up winning a British DSC and US Bronze Star for his ops. Image is of him wearing those medals, so after his German Navy days.
As I believe the eyes in this forum are the most likely to spot the good or the bad, here are the images off the website, as well as the one of the man behind the name that I came across while hunting for info. He does appear in a book written by a Columbia University Professor who wrote on those secret ops. Also in some Polish articles. Someone claiming to be a son and a grandson did post with questions about that history, but not in reference to the helmet, just researching their Dad/Grand Dads story. First appearing in 2007 long before the helmet did.
Not sure why someone would 'fake' this one based on that name, but I figured I'd better risk my belief that it's the real deal by throwing it past you folks.
I did see mention that the lot number does match KM helmets. The number written in the liner is apparently the reference to the postal ID for Cherbourg(sp) where he was stationed before being captured.
Thanks in advance for the input. I do not have it in hand yet, but should by Monday
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Very interesting , the number in the helmet is a KM feldpostnumber linked to the French port of Cherbourg.
You have a researchable helmet here. Nice find.
Another interesting feature is the rollerbuckle chinstrap. Believed to have been made from the leather of French Adrian helmet chinstraps. It is said KM preferred such straps but I cannot say it is fact or collector babble. I have a similar strap on an ND M42.
It's a good looking helmet. I like it.
These type straps do appear sometimes on M42 KM's. I have no answer for it or a logical reason why that would be.
Thanks, D
Very nice helmet.
Nice bit of new info for me on KM and roller buckle chin straps
Nice helmet - i like the removed decal as it tells a story. The extra info is really cool as well and i believe genuine too.
Nick
Very cool Lid w some KM History ... I have seen this one somewhere before or at least knew the previous owner. Cant place it. Regardless ... nice piece!
Z
Nice helmet. just saw it few days ago on Ken's site. Very "polish" to it
Got the helmet in hand today. Feeling pretty good about it now. Thanks for the insights. I plan to keep hunting for more on Mr. Tydda and see if I can establish his time with the KM
Had a bit of a flashback when I looked at the helmet up close. It reminded me of the one I saw all those years ago hanging from my great uncle's wall. I As I tried to remember the colors, it was always my belief that the insides of that first helmet I saw was black. Looking at the one I got today, it also looks about black, but is a really dark gray green I believe. Easy for a kid to mistake for black 🙂
Also interesting to look at the remnants of the decal. Makes me wonder what was behind it's being scraped off, whether it was by Tydda himself, or someone in the family postwar. I can't imagine that his being conscripted in and then working for the Brits and the OSS made him a great fan of the Third Reich. Losing the swastika would have been a bit of a statement for sure. Much like the LW unit during the B off B that scraped them off the tails of their 109s who then got 'branded' with the red bands around their cowls instead of the unit badge.
Regardless, it feels good to have a legit helmet in hand. Almost feel like a grown up now 🙂
Dan
Put in a closet for a few days with your next helmet and they will multiply very quickly.