Stahlhelm - Postwar Use of Germany's Wartime Helmet
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- Опубліковано 8 вер 2024
- The iconic German WW2 helmet was used long after the demise of the Third Reich, and is still in use in 2022 in a few countries.
Dr. Mark Felton FRHistS is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.o...
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Credits: US National Archives; Auckland Museum; Rotterdam Museum; Piotr VaGla Waglowski; Wolfmann; Andrea Gattinger; MilitaryParadeCollection
Stahlhelm was certainly ahead of its time. Even the US Army in the late 70s had to abandon the famous ‘GI helmet’ and went for a new design eerily similar to the Stahlhelm.
a design that's still (with some modifications) in use today.
The Stahlhelm was simply a bloody good design that's stood the test of time, a century on and it's still pretty much the template for helmets worldwide.
They went to diffevent materials, Kevlar, and it slightly resembled the stahlhelm. Much better than the M-1. However, the insert could be painted and polished, just a good looking ceremonial helment.
Some 15th century helmets aren't too far from the silhouette. Especially some more compact, visorless and lighter ones.
Goes to show that a noggin hasn't changed much lol... and the bits that get hit need to be covered.
@@jwenting Kinda like the 1911 is still the foundation of many modern semi-autos
@@jwenting If it ain't broke don't fix it.
In the Chilean army the stahlhelm is used exclusively by NCO academy members as part of their their parade uniforms. The officers academy uses pickelhaube as part of their parade attire, sometimes sporting a plume.
Haha.... Picklehauber ... complete with plume on the Prussian " spike" ? They went out in 1915
on the Western front for Christ sake , on account of being caught on barbed wire , l presume . That's extraordinary .
Isn't it used by the presidential honor guard?
@@michellebrown4903 - these types of historical helmets and uniforms are only used on parades. The combat gear is modern.
@@viniciusdomenighi6439 - I believe the presidential guard is in charge of the uniformed police (Carabineros). There’s an army honor guard that uses historical uniforms as well.
And iirc, also the Colombians and Dominicans used the helmet. I believe the Chileans called the helmet "El Gris Verde", the grey green. I believe FAMAE made some M35 during between the 70s and 80s, and briefly in the early 90s.
I am ex-military and would LOVE to attend one of those amazing parades in Chile!!!
It took place every September 19, Parque O'Higgins, Santiago (Capital city)
Parades don't win wars
@@reggierendon2847 Chilean military have never lost a war to anyone. A parade on peace shows the espirit de corps displayed on war. May we never march to war again, other than to defend our territory
@@Archer-op9cp Chilean army has fought nothing but poor countries, like Bolivia or Peru, they wouldn't last 3 days against a Chinese invasion. The Chinese are always stealing the fish from your coast
@@reggierendon2847 thats the most ridiculous thing i ever read
Watching those Chilean soldiers I couldn't help but notice the impressive drum line behind them!
The moment Emil Korner set foot upon Chile, arny discipline raised up to 140%. Since then, Chile's army is the prussia that still lives in our hearts.
@@ITSMRFOXY nah. prussians didin't kill their own people and they werent corrupt like the chilean army. all the generals since pinochet have been convicted of fraud
Goose stepping must be hard on the soldiers. Such an uncomfortable march. Got to have good muscle strength to march like that. Jawohl!
@@poochie49 Not to mention the unnecessary stress on their hips and knees!
@@poochie49 Chilean army practice march every day
German-heritage firefighter stations here in Chile still use the Stahlhelm painted in reflective yellow with a letherpiece bolted on to protect the neck from falling burning debris. My dad still has his.
Same in Germany until 2022
@@steffenrosmus9177 It always makes me smile how the fascists who rule Germany today do all the virtue signaling against Nazis.
I live in Bavaria in the countryside and there almost every fire department still uses the Stahlhelm-shaped helmet.
What a beautiful part of a beautiful country. I absolutely loved my time in Bavaria. I was delighted to see all the small gardens with small cottages on the outskirts of towns. You are a fortunate person indeed to live in such a beautiful place.
keep in mind the people in barvaria saluted hitler and
@@dave8599 shut up dave
@@dave8599 as everyone else in germany and some neighboring countries
Just wanted to comment this... But it's still in use with lots of the volunteer firefighting brigades around germany - not just bavaria.
I can't talk about the professional firefighters from the big cities though
There's also the Swiss Stalhelms M18 and M71 which again are different evolutions on the design.
Don't you think the M71 is more like a weird combination of the German Stahlhelm and the American M1? I think looks something like that.
I prefer the Darth Vader helm worn by Saddam's Fedayeen troops.
It is interesting that US Army Major Bashford Deans's, Helmet reasearch&development team, during WW1 came up with experimental helmet designs #2 and #5, which both greatly resemble the Swiss 1918 model helmet.
@@alessandrok.9684 Actually, it just looks like an Italian M33 helmet. It probably is an M33 produced by the swiss.
Presumably made from solid gold and lined with chocolate bars. :-)
I remember when the first Kevlar helmets were issued to US forces, many veterans disparagingly called it the "Fritz", because of a slight resemblance to the Stahlhelm. However, it does deliver superior resistance not only to artillery fragments, but to bullets. During the first Gulf War, there's a picture of a British soldier smiling broadly as he displayed his "Fritz" with three obvious impacts from an AK-47.
That's exactly what I called it when it replaced our M1 helmets in '83.
@@gunnerk19 I own one of them, today, complete with woodland camo cover and accessories.
@@steffenritter7497 I've got gobs of that kit of stuff. When they became surplus here in the states you could by it in bulk. I did however find a few solid od green covers I'd never seen used before.
Right , It was the weekly Newsweek 1980s' it was called the "Fritz" if I recalled because of it similarities. For the record it was Nationalist Chinese Army that first to use the Stahlhelm-2 before WW2 was declared in Europe. In postwar West Germany their firemen wore their yellow Stahlhelm-2. It was 2011 Ukrainian Arm forces seen using the " Fritz" standard . A year later Russia with their version of the" Fritz ". The only difference with the American version the Russian is slightly wider.
The new Kevlar M-1 had “bumps” around the the ears so you can wear headphones & thus making look Stahhlem.
I know that the Chilean uniforms look similar to certain Prussian 20th century uniforms but you got to admit that do look sharp
Because they're ceremonial
I mean, if you look at Chile’s history, you would see that the Prussians were involved and actually trained their soldiers at one point in time after they had kicked the French out of their country.
@@itzmeolivia perhaps I should my knowledge has a great gap when it comes to Latin American history especially from the 1700s to now
@@itzmeolivia Structural reform, but not tactical training. In those times Chile was a world military power.
What’s wrong with Prussian 20th Century uniforms? Of course they look great.
in Chile, prussian officers like emil kohner came in the late 1800's to train the army(the Navy had a long time british tradition, dated to the famous Lord Cochrane who created it short after independence). Until this day the army has a Strong prussian tradition.
Correct. Emil Koerner arrived in 1885.
My dad was a volunteer fire fighter in the 60s in east germany, according to him they used the wehrmacht helmet with a bolted on leather piece to protect the neck from falling burning debris.
If that's what you want to believe then sure, the entire Wehrmacht were *Firefighters. Smh
I've got an old surplus one that's an aluminium version, with the leather neck guard and then painted with glow in the dark paint.
@@Weaponsandstuff93 You're defo a neo nazi too!
Literally every single fire brigade in Germany uses the Stahlhelm to this day or at least a modified version of it.
Yes very true. Because I have one in my house, brought it off eBay. Very well made and solid built, no wonder so many nations adopted its design.
I never thought I would be so keen to watch 5 minutes of German helmets, but Mark you have made another great vid,
Always remember a WW2 US airborne vet saying that he looked out for the silhouette of the helmet of anyone who approached him in the early morning light of 6th June. If it was a stalhelm shape it was game over for the owner.
Let me tell you he wasnt very feared here...
@@berndblabla4249 what?
@@berndblabla4249
That could be why he was alive to tell his side of the story and they were elsewhere in eternal sleep.
@@berndblabla4249 American paratroopers were elite infantry ,and were amongst the best . ( Brit here) .
During World War I, the U.S. Army realized that the German design offered better protection that the British "pie plate," but feared that using the German design would cause identification problems.
Here in Finland our various stahlhelms were used up into the 80s-90s in training conscripts. Some were still in storage until very recently.
Chile has had a LONG Prussian military tradition. In fact, during their annual military parade, they still perform the parade step (derisively called a goose step). Check out the Chile parade here on YT.
Since 1885
No offense, but the way the chilean army marches looks comical compared to the Reichswehr for example.
@@emphrax3470After WWII, my Grandfather and Father, both Germans, emigrated to Chile, to join a large German community stablished since the late 1800. And definitely, both would disagree with you opinion. They had the "historic" opportunity to witness Wehrmacht parades and Chilean Army parade and both concurred the "Marschparade" were no different. Same pass, same time, same posture, same stature same marching songs.....and even some language. Sadly, is a tradition destined to vanish and disappear in our "modern" politically correct world
@@emphrax3470 comical in what way???
@@emphrax3470 there's always a resentful troll spewing negativity here...
I never imagined a helmet could have so much history , variants and so many countries
It's a readily identifiable and attractive looking helmet with an unfortunate association.
Still the most stylish and best looking Helmets to this day
Matches the stylish german uniforms
@Edohiguma Germany today is ludicrous
@@donbrashsux Still lost ww1 and 2
@@donbrashsux Hugo Boss made many of the SS uniforms.
@@daniellap.stewart6839 Granted but that wasn't the fault of the helmet or the soldier's equipment.
In both world wars the fault lay in the leadership of Germany. The German General Staff in WW1 and Hitler and his cronies in WW2.
I'm Chilean born so I knew of the helmet's use there. Interesting how it was used so much until recently.
Love to watch the Chilean parade every year around September. Not just the army but all four branches kick ass!!
I have a German fire helmet I traded for when working as an American firefighter. It actually glows in the dark after being exposed to light.
I should mention it also has the leather neck shield that another comment mentions.
Thats the newer Plastikversion, when i was a Boy the Firefighters used the Steelversion in Black with a leather neck and the old style WW2 Casmask cans.
early 70s many germans cleaned their attics throw away old stuff it was the time when i found 3 WW2 Steelhelmets, 2 Gasmask cans at the Dump plus many other Ww2 era Stuff, uniform parts, Canteen, splinter camo tent tracks , my Ma throw all the stuff away she didnt like things from the Dump :(.
For me the old US Version Helmet with camo cover plus jungle fatique (Vietnam era uniform) and Alice Gear is the best lookin Uniform style ever!
Did not know they did that. I never could get my hands on ones
during my time as a paramedic we were called to a supposed gunfight during the night.
So to protect myself I put on my helmet (the old aluminum version of the firefighter "steel" helmet), when my buddy said "you look like a f**** glowworm with a death wish"
@@stormspotter67 you can still by them in the newest version online.
As a tidbit of trivia regarding the Yugoslav use of the Stahlhelm.
When the war in Europe concluded in May on 1945, the newly created Yugoslav Peoples Army adopted the M35 and its derivates as its standard issue steel helmet (reason being the sheer amount of them that were captured during the war) before the adoption of the indigenously designed M59 in 1959, itself being heavily inspired by the M35 series. When the United Nations called upon the creation of a peacekeeping force to monitor the situation on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt following the Suez Crisis and War of 1956, Yugoslavia decided to send over a large contingent as part of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF).
What is more interesting was the fact that they were intentionally issued with US made M1 helmets panted in blue by the UN, because Stahlhelm's were not preferred for United Nations overseas operations as the helmet itself was strongly associated with former Nazi Germany and its wartime activities.
During the war, the uniforms of Tito's Partisans were all captured from German supplies.
They weren't dyed in a different colour because that would have been too costly and they didn't have the means anyway.
I read that on many occasions, Partisans drank lots of water to get rid of their empty stomach.
The only modification were of course the insignias, which consisted of a lone red star on the headwear.
I don't think they re-used German Stahlhelms during the war, would have been too confusing I think plus most of the time they would be carrying extra dead weight and helmets are of little use in a guerilla war anyway. No self respecting guerilla would hang around to catch a few shells on their heads.
Same with Finns, Suez was first UN op we took part and like Yugoslavia, finns used US made M1'a instead of our Stahlhelms propably for same reason
America is worse than nazi germany in every way
yeah, even 1991 JNA troops with that helmet, you can see the design features with the curve of the rim. It's quite similar to the infamous east german helmet, but with much more tasteful curves, like a blend between the M35 and the fallschirmjager helmet with heavier M35 tones.
That's $+up¡d¡+¥ the highest order. Also Stahlhelm is not a proper name. It's just descriptive. It actually means steel helmet, dvm6@$$€$.
Mr. Felton you are the best historian on yt , and I'm always impressed when you mention my country. Greetings from Chile .
I'd be impressed if someone was still rocking the pickel-helm from early WW1. I believe the spike was for deflecting sabre cuts.
EDIT: Holy crap, the Chileans still have ceremonial cavalry that wear it!
Yes sir!
Also swedish Lifeguard / Royal Guard is using such helmets, even the steel ones.
That end clip of the Chilean army marching to Preußens Gloria was surreal. It’s just like watching an old German army march in high definition and colour.
@@williambodin5359 🤡
to bad the actual chilean military bands are horrendous and play nothing like that , try to find parade videos of them marching and you'll see what I mean but at least they aren't as bad as the Egyptians.
@@williambodin5359 ywnabw
@@HerrWayne45 your mom told me the same last night
@@HerrWayne45 they play amazing actually... germans cannot even play those tunes anymore
Chile has and follows Prussian tradition.
At the end of the 19th century, “Chileans sent a group of Prussian officers to get their army in shape, and when Prussian Captain Emil Körner retired as Commander General of the Chilean Armed Forces in 1910, the country's martial prowess it was unmatched in South America.”
Que quiere decir,. prowess?
Broken English
@@ProvidEd709 "skill or expertise in a particular activity or field."
The Chilean army looks really sharp. 👍🏻
The are, indeed
🇨🇱👮♂️Danke
Looking sharp in a parade, and being battle harden are 2 different things. Parades don't win wars
@@reggierendon2847 The chilean army does not have to prove anything to anyone. After defeating two cuntries in the Pacific War, in 1880, he adopted the Prussian doctrine, with Austrian officers and their marches and parade uniform, used before Nazi Germany. It is a highly qualified, professional and proud army of its history, never defeated. If we have to fight a new war with our "neighbors", our motto would again be "WIN OR DIE".
@@charlydelgado347 two wars in 200 yrs of existence, that's a joke, por favor. . Who did they fight England, Germany, Russia or the United States. They fought nothing but poor starving countries like peru or Bolivia. I have more respect for Argentina that took on England, while chile back up the European conquistadors. Instead of getting rid of the last of European conquerors. Plus with that 80k men army they cannot prove much anyhow
The Germans always had a way of innovation and engineering that truly captivates whoever appreciates that type of stuff. Whatever you put them to do, they’ll find the most efficient possible way to get it done.
We find the best way, not the most efficient. Look at the tanks of ww2, superior to the allied ones, but let the engine break and you need a team of engineers and mechanics, as well as a workshop to fix it. Take an allied tank where mostly the crew itself or some field maintaince could fix it and if not fixable just replaced by another cheap tank.
Same goes with pretty much everything... also bureaucracy slows everything down, just look at how slow the wheels turn when we have to support ukraine....
@Edohiguma yea. That comes with consistent brilliance. Overthinking.
@@IN0O5 definitely German cars lol.
Yes even towards the end of WW2 when their cities were being bombed every night. They even increased production. That’s German efficiency for you..
@@IN0O5 true that was their biggest downfall. Their equipment was over engineered. If a Russian T34 broke down the crew could repair almost anything themselves on the front, where if a German tiger tank failed it could take weeks for a team of technicians to repair replace a gearbox so that tank would be out of action for weeks. Then the massive variety in equipment. Where as the allied and soviet forces standardised everything the Germans had dozens of different tanks, guns, planes serving in their forces so getting spare parts became a logistical nightmare. Yep their superior engineering was their weakest point. How ironic.
Chilean Army looking quite dapper in the field grays… Dang a modern throwback.
That Chilean army footage gave me goose bumps, their drill displays are awesome!
Además de un gran cuchillo corvo en frente
Drills don't win wars, battle harden soldiers do
Ya if you are into nazi history I suppose.. to much like the evil it once was for my liking.
@Reggie Rendon dude who cares. Nobody is saying that parades or drills win wars, everyone knows that they don't. They are just admiring how beautiful it looks. Can't you just enjoy that at least?
@@vicenteguzmanp maybe real combat veterans don't admired clowning around.
I am glad and grateful to the Chilean government who are still continuing with not only the German Helmets but even their military marching songs. Bravo Chilean Armed Forces.
Gracias 👮♂️🇨🇱🌊
Danke Schön. Freund. Immer bereit.
Fun fact, the Stahlhelm was also used by the ROC national revolution army (especially the Central Army) during the second Sino-Japanese War(1937-1945) , and some ROC troops and police during the civil war between the Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist party) and the Chinese Communist Party, and even some PLA soldiers of the Chinese Communist Party also wore Stahlhelm that were captured after being evacuated from the ROC army. But it is to replace the national emblem of the ROC Army with the red eighty-one five-pointed star of the People's Liberation Army.
P.S. fan from Taiwan
Germany give military aid to China. Because they were fighting against the red's.
yes the germans sold them to the Chinese
The son of Chiang kai shek Was educated in the German Army and later brought with him German instructors including von Falkenhausen. It's sad thought that the ROC trow away all its German trained divisions in Shanghai.
Ur people better get prepared for the next war. Best wishes from the usa
Lnl
I love the Chilean Army parade part. The rousing martial music is quite entertaining.
Look at " parada militar Chile"
If you like that, here is another one. "Prussia's glory" played by the Bundeswehr Stabsmusikkorps. 😊
ua-cam.com/video/fDtXbeOub-E/v-deo.html
The music is the middle part of "Preussens Gloria", the first part of which is probably the best known piece of Prussian military music. So much so that it is often used to go with any footage showing Prussian or older German military. It is still used by the Bundeswehr's ceremonial Wachbataillon (Guard Batallion) in Berlin when foreign dignitaries are welcomed with military honours.
1,000 bases around the World, but having an American military parade would denote a love of warfare mentality...
The music ("Preußens Gloria") was not from the orginal audio itself, because, quite frankly, many Chilean military bands play so horribly off-key that, as a German, one hardly recognizes the melody it's supposed to be. 😂
One of the coolest looking helmets ever
Firefighters in Chile are volunteers, some were founded by immigrants, and those of German ancestry still use the stahlhelm...there are some 50 fire companies still using it.
Asi es Tal cual "Feuerwehr". Como la Bomba Alemania en sus equipos. y Carros
The M35 helmet and the "Jerry can" for petrol, are the two most reused German designs from the WW2 era; it is hard to improve them.
Thank you Dr. Felton for all these information, as they can't be readily found in history books...
Regards,
Anthony
Yet no one wants a german designed shower.
The GPMG is also the most reused. So is the turbojet engine…
@@LazyLizzy706 The compressor being axial rather than centrifugal.
So that's why it's called that
If you wanted a complete collection of books about German helmets you'd need a very long shelf. The most written-about helmet *ever*. And there are more websites about them than about all other helmet types put together.
The Stahlhelm is the most logical and perfect design for an open faced helmet, which is why a modern version of it is used by militaries all over the world.
You can't lay prone with a stahlhelm
Actually modern helmets are quite different to the Stahlhelm, and not just because they use modern materials. The shape and size have changed dramatically, simply because the original design wasn't perfect.
@@sextuspompeius1266 why would you ever need to lay prone? Real men stand upright and absorb bullets with their Aryan bullet resistant flesh
I once saw a video of the Bundeswehr doing a march in Berlin (near the Brandenburg Gate) and at first glance it looked like they wore the Stahlhelm
@@another3997 Original design is easier to manufacture but yeah, not the best one
The Soviets also had their own Stahlhelm, the Ssh-36. It had a comb like the earlier Adrian helmet. They stopped producing it in 1941 in favour of the well known Ssh-39 and 40, which were cheaper to produce
Yes, I believe I searched it in the past for drawing out khalkhin gol pictures
In 1941 huh? I wonder they changed their mind lol
I have an example used by Bulgaria myself. It seems like almost a perfect mesh between the stahlhelm and Ssh-36
Chile got it right. My friend is closing his gun shop in near future and his collection of WWII German Stalhelms and other items related to Germany might go for sale or taking them to his other home with barn in Berks County. The Reichsadler he has from a WWII train is perfect along with Officer's caps etc etc.
It's still the most elegant and beautiful helmet. Nothing can compare
beautiful video, very informative and extremely interesting, the design of this helmet have me mesmerized since I'm quite young.
I would like to contribute to the elements shown on the Chilean parade that the uniforms used by the presentation forces, at least those shown in the video, are uniforms from the Reichswehr, regardless of the resemblance to the Wehrmacht. In addition to that the rifles used in the parade are specifically the Steyr Modelo 1912, as well as the sounds of Preußens Gloria several other Austrian marches are also played, such as Radetzky marsch and Deutschmeister Regimentsmarsch for example.
I make this comment in order to try to separate a bit the idea that wanders on the internet that our parades have exclusive relation with the Wehrmacht and the German Reich from 1933. When in fact this mentioned influence were gestating long before.
well said, cheers.
Great comment, Ersnt. Thing is, the chilean army has adopted the prussian tradition in its army, rather than specifically german. Same happened with Peru in the late 19th century and the 20th century, they adopted the French tradition.
Chile's use of the stahlhelm reminds me of the time I was 7 or 8, when I hoisted a home made flag with a swastika in the backyard. I loved reading about Rommel and the German Army, and that was my fort. My dad, born in England in 1936, had a different perspective and explained why the flag could not be flown over the house.
Always listen to your dad.
(Chuckle!) Yes, I'll bet that went over like a "Led Zeppelin" 😅
@@ronmacisaac2897 Getting ignored goes with the territory for parents and teachers alike.
yes but the chilean use of the german traditions has nothing to do with the nazi era, in fact it comes far way back in the 1890´s, personally i prefer that german helmet than those rather ugly looking american m1 helmets ( not trying to offend the us soldiers obviously) they simply look sharper
@@cristobalstark6929 My point was that to many people outside Chile when they see the Chilean military, they do not think back as far as the 1890s but to more recent history and to the military general Pinochet and how he ruled as a dictator, using the military and police against Chilean civilians and to crimes against humanity. This is what many outside of Chile think of and I would be surprised if many modern Chilean people do not know about this time of the police state in Chile and do not feel shame at what was done in Chile. Perhaps I am wrong about this and modern young people in Chile know nothing of this time.
I used to live in Chile and found it ironic when Erich Honecker was exiled (that's where his daughter lived) and died there. What if he had turned on the T.V. on Chile's National Day and saw those goose-stepping Stahlhelm-clad, gray-uniformed soldiers parading!
We implemented the Prussian discipline in 1885, goose step included.
You are right though, that it was weird to have Erich Honecker here.
His daughter was married to a Chilean National that was in exiled in the DDR.
You see? Even to the Chileans *_"it was weird to have Erich Honecker there."_*
@@JSB103Bachelet . brought him to save him from being put under justice for their crimes. in Germany like Chauchescu and other after the soviet union desaspierd
I used to have an East German M56 helmet. It was heavy, awkward and it would not protect against blunt force. If you got hit with a club, the helmet would move and hit you in the head. The liner had soft foam which easily compressed, allowing the steal to hit your head.
I have quite the collection of those, and the blunt trauma protection is chiefly a matter of a) how worn the liner is and b) how much the foam has degenerated. Newer ones with crisp and clean foam (or simply new foam inserts because the old ones have crumbled to smithereens) really do quite well against that, but if you had one that was frequendly used (for instance for the famous hazing ritual of "bowling ball" - long story), that protection quite simply "wore off".
The bigger issue was the fact that the first version with its characteristic three rivets on the outside could leave the wearer with neck injuries if you got the brim caught on a doorframe when dismounting off an IFV or hitting it on the ridge of a foxhole. Thus came the M56/65 version, where the liner was attached in a way that the helmet simply popped off if subjected to a certain stress. (The detachable liner also made it popular as an improvised basin/pot, but I digress)
I must say the Chilean army goose-stepping surely brought back memories of the Wehrmacht!
The Stahlhelm helmet is currently worn in Chile for ceremonial purposes only. What you see at the end of this video is only a very small part of the Glories of the Army parade, where the «Escuela de Suboficiales del Ejército» (Army NCO School) is presented. All the other units of the army, as well as the other units of the Navy, Air Force and Carabineros are presented in this parade with other models of helmets, caps and berets.
Mark, one of the countries you missed out was Egypt, I was surprised to find goose stepping grey clad troops at Sadat's tomb back in 1982. Not sure if they are still attired in this way...
Would be an interesting topic for another video, the "Goose Step" march, it's origins and use today
@@dotdashdotdash very much agree!
@@dotdashdotdash I call it the Turkey dance !
I saw a photo of Egyptian troops taken about 2010 or so. They had a mish mash of helmets but a few were still stahlhelms. I would suspect that the situation is the same today.
They've gone back to the King Tut style headgear and false beards.
Thank you Mark for making these videos I’m a truck driver and your videos make the trips go by a lot faster, keep up the great content!!!
You Watch Videos Whilst driving?
@@KokkiePiet Doesn't everybody??
@@KokkiePiet obviously no I just listen especially the war stories channel
@@theushanka2120 Thank god for that!
@@theushanka2120 You had me worried
A full video on the Chilean military, past and present would be most informative and interesting.
I don't know where you find all this subjects. But they are fullfilling my history notions.
Excuse me for my english.
I am Swiss german.
So I speek normaly german and french.
Thank you Dr. Felton.
The Chilean march is just the best😍🇨🇱❤
I remember how surprised i was, at my first day at the Bundesgrenzschutz 1982, when we got our helmets. 😁
With these helmets, armed with a FN FAL and wearing our camouflage jackets, we looked more like WWII soldiers, instead of police men (BGS was border police, so the ranks were).
I too started my police training in 1982. And was equally surprised when we were issued WW2 style pattern German helmets for riot control.
We also wore camouflage uniforms. The helmets were painted a light green.
And we were also issued with FN FAL's along with pump action shotguns and 37mm "stopper" guns.
The mention of the Chilean army, reminded me of a certain German military song, that is in use with their tank troops...the "Panzerlied". Most people have heard this, when it was sung in the movie, "Battle of the Bulge"
Back in 2010,at the chilean military parade, the warband played panzerlied while the leopard2 tanks paraded. Its on youtube
Still sung today buy the German Army and (I think)...others.....
@@TheWilferch Nope! Banned from Bundeswehr albums by Ursula von der Leyen. I suppose the soldiers themselves still may sing it if they wish, but only if they want to look suspiciously like some of the more Neo-Nazi nutjobs they found in the German military.
@@revanofkorriban1505 ....I checked on your point made, and find that indeed in 2017 there was a change to remove it from the official list of songs in the German army songbook. But.... not banned altogether I find. I see this response from a German person on the internet---> " It is not “banned”. You can sing it if you like, you can print it, sell it, exchange it. It is not banned. The CDU and the Bundeswehr decided they did not want it in their songbooks anymore, but that is not a legal ban, it is a distancing...."
@@TheWilferch Thats why I said banned from the official Bundeswehr albums. People in the Bundeswehr can use it if they want, but as an institution it's not supposed to endorse the song by putting it in their official songbooks.
DAMM. I was in the US HONOR GUARD and thought we were pretty good but that Chilean Army was SMOKING 💥💥 It would be cool if the 3rd Infantry switched regulation Caps with blue Kevlar helmets 🤙
It's beautiful to watch those Chileans Marche. More German then Germans.
Our army is the only one that uses Panzerlied when our tanks (Leopard 2) are marching.
@@renegadejagd758Yea, its the "Himno de los Blindados", the anthem of the Tank divisions (which is just Panzerlied)
For those who wonder what the Pickelhaube purpose was. The purpose was heat controll, the top had holes for air circulation. After standing in the sun for hours, the soldiers said that it became to hot under the helmet and the top with holes for air circulation have been added by the developer. The Pickle on the Haube acts like a smokestack. Original Pickelhaubes have 4-6 ventilation holes on the top.
Stahlhelm is so well designed in terms of protection and ergonomics.
The best looking helmet design ever.
The greatest military helmet of all time. All armies. All ages. It’s brilliant
There is nothing great about germany, nothing, an evil nation.
The greatest? All armies and all ages? How exactly do you come to that conclusion? Helmets have been in use for thousands of years. Different designs, different materials and all suited to the differing requirements of the age.
@@another3997 because it is
And still the Germans managed to lose both world wars.
@@another3997 because they larp and think it looks cool so therefore its the best
Is rather an iconic helmet. Probably the best protection of all WW2 helmets. Another great video. 👍
I’ve always said if you want to see some truly impressive Germanic military parade go to Chile .
Lol
😂 Better on the real War German
So iconic that even sci fi films(star wars) of the future use it.
In fairness, Star Wars uses a *lot* of imagery that evokes feelings of wartime Germany because the Empire is meant to be the Space Nazis.
They didn't use it because it's "iconic"
Chiliean Army is BAD ASS.... I don't care if it is a throw back to Nazi Germany, that goosestep march is inspiring to watch when done in sync...
Just for ceremonial stuff. Yearly parades also include soldiers in older kit (Independence, Confederation/Guano wars, "German" kit), and modern weapons and uniforms, alongside air and marines. It's both a way to honor the so far invincible army, show off, and have an extra day off from work!
Which invincible army?
@@Daniel-qz3pk WTF are you talking about Willis...?
Es un ejército excepcionalmente profesional y bueno. Además, derrotó al marxismo.
Hankgs,
Muy acomplejado tu comentario.
Ejercito chileno siempre vencedor jamas vencido🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱
In late sixties, in Poland, this helmet made part of of our fire fighting gear. When I was a high school student we had voluntary fire fighting unit.
I have a totally different story of the Stahlhelm in post-war Germany thant you Mark. As after the Germany people were short of literally everything, a young Veteran of my hometown Friedrichshafen bought many of those helmets and transformed them into cooking pots and pans. You really hat to improvise in that time as my City got totally wrecked by Allied bombings. He sold so much of those pots that he made good money in times when nobody made money. As Real Estate prices were very low in that time he bought some houses and land with that money. Many Years later when I started working for him in the 2010s he had a big Real Estate empire here in our region. He was a truly an inspiring Person who taught us young guys a lot about life during and after the war. He also used his Real estate to curb social housing in my Region and every year He donated a fully equipped ambulance car to the Belarussian Region of Polozk, where he fought during the war. Thanks to his activities my city nowadays has a twinning agreement with the City of Polozk. He passed away some years ago but he really gave a great example on how to turn bad things and bad times in good Things and goot times!
The first video on the channel was about the US M1 helmet. Dr Felton going back to his roots I see.
It was a very functional helmet, much the same why that in baseball, a hitter's helmet evolved to extend down to give protection to the side of the face. It just made sense and so does this helmet. The current US helmet may not resemble the Stahlhelm but it most certainly got it's design inspiration from this sensible German design.
We lived in a small German village in 1963 when my father was stationed in Germany with the Air Force. Right around the corner from the apartment building we lived in was the local fire station. Having an interest in WW2 as a teen it fascinated me to see rows of WW2 German helmets on shelves along the walls of the station complete with the canister style gas masks as used in WW2.
The Stahlhelm used by Firefighters (in my rual area) are mostly stahlhelms (combat helmets made out of steel and also parade helmets made out of aluminium) from ww2 just painted over.
Greetings from Bavaria
It remains one of the best helmet designs to have on your head when things are bursting overhead.
grande. mi. chile. 🥈🥉🥈🥇🥈🥉🥉🥈🥈♥️🇨🇱♥️🇨🇱♥️🇨🇱♥️🇨🇱
Desde Chile un afectuoso saludo Mark !
The Chilean parades are really, really cool. I do feel sorry for the somewhat portly commanders of the ceremonial units getting out there and goose stepping for a minute. Looks tough on the old guys but they make it through. 💪🏼
They didn't show the female soldiers. They look awesome in Stahlhelms!
If the films of those long-ago very impressive Wehrmacht parades are any indication don't bother goose-stepping unless you're in your 20's, slim, and in the best physical condition of your life. Otherwise you just won't look good, if not downright silly.
I've seen videos of contemporary Schutzenfest parades in Germany where the "over the hill gang" are attempting to goose-step. Don't bother guys, you look awful.
They're just a waste of our tax money
@@wayneantoniazzi2706 Some don't have a choice. Same with the North Korean variant. Though in their most recent night parade, seems they modified it slightly to be less harsh and 'bouncy' as that style is hard on the joints and feet and can cause injuries.
@@mich722 No doubt. In fact, if you look closely at the films of those Wehrmacht parades I mentioned (Hitler's 50th birthday parade is a good example) the goose-step the Germans are using seems to be a relaxed (for lack of a better term) and relatively easy version. This is not to say the Germans didn't have an exaggerated version of their own, films of SS honor guard changes are a good example of that type.
But you're right about the "bouncy" North Korean goose-step, it's got to hurt.
One thing we should remember about the goose-step, it was (for the Germans anyway) only performed when passing the review stand, once passed a normal marching step was resumed.
Congratulations again on getting FRHistS under your belt mate, you deserve it.
If you wish to see the Chilean Army and it's historical uniforms, a parade is made in Santiago de Chile on September 19 each year!
Seeing those Chilean parades is like watching history come back alive :)
So did Argentina's Army under Perón in 1944, along with combat uniforms similar to those worn by the Wehrmacht. That's one of the reasons the former Third Reich men felt so quite at home in Argentina after the war...!
I'm a German Firefighter and I have to say, the Fritz Helmet is the best that I have. It is robust, easy to wear and a great reason why I still wear it: You can hear everything around you because for example, the Calimero Helmet covers the ears and you hear everything muffled.
Details, details and more meticulous details - beautiful! Thank you Mark.
Those images from chili always gives me the shivers. BUT also major repsect in keeping to their traditions and not letting the opinion of countries far away alter them.
*CHILE
In the late 80s I was stationed with the US Army’s Berlin Brigade and while training at the British forces’ Ruhleben urban fighting site I saw some German “soldiers”, maybe border guards, there wearing what appeared to be the old Stahlhelm and conducting machine gun crew drills with what appeared to be an MG-42. It was very odd to see.
What you saw was the MG3 (Dr. Felton did a video on that, too), which is basically a more durable MG 42 with a lower firing rate. Shot with that myself in the Bundeswehr; thing kicked like a bloody mule.
@@duicic8541 you are likely correct, but is must have been an early version. Barrel looked different than the one I carried going through Einzelkämpfer school. Since there were no Bundeswehr in Berlin at the time of occupation, maybe these guys (Zoll, Polizei?) didn’t have the latest?
@@keithkarbel2000 : Could have been Bereitschaftspolizei, but officially german weapons had not been allowed for civilian armed personal of State Westberlin.
@@keithkarbel2000 - that is a good question. What is further a good question is why these guys carried one in the first place. The Bundesgrenzschutz actually still had the MG42, not the MG3, but there were no BGS units stationed in Berlin until after the wall fell (as they were legally combattants in a wartime scenario, that would have been a no-no under the four-power-status), as far as I'm aware. But neither the Bundeszoll nor the regular Polizei Berlin carried anything heavier at the time than the HK MP5. Could have been the Bereitschaftspolizei, as @BrittaKriep has suggested, though with them, I cannot say if they had the MG3 or still the MG42 (if the BGS still had the latter, why not them?).
@@brittakriep2938 - well, the Berlin FPR (Freiwillige Polizeireserve, Volunteer Police Reserve for all non-German speakers) did carry both the Sten gun and the Mauser Karabiner 98k, so German weapons were not out of the question, even though they were used alongside imported weapons. You could be right that it was the BePo, though, as they were given heavier stuff than the regular border-guarding Polizei.
I would genuinely travel to Chile just to see the military parade with the pickelhaubes and stahlhelms to preußens gloria alone
If you thought the uniforms was interesting (The Chileans) you should see the way they give their oaths to the flag on July 10 each year.
I have to say that the Prussian and German armies had some of the best looking military uniforms.
When I joined the National guard (in Washington State USA) I was issued the German style helmet. My father took one look and asked me if i was in the American army or the German. (He was a ww2 veteran).
Wow, I am German and I never knew Chile had such glorious German parades. Don't get me wrong, I despise the war crimes and how Hitler lead us on (WW2 started with his staged Polish attack on German radio station I think). I like the marching music (about your crush and about leaving your loved ones and about being far away from home etc). And there is honor in fighting for your country.
Chuss Aus Chile mein freund
This is since 1889.
Chie has and follows Prussian tradition.
At the end of the 19th century, “Chileans sent a group of Prussian officers to get their army in shape, and when Prussian Captain Emil Körner retired as Commander General of the Chilean Armed Forces in 1910, the country's martial prowess it was unmatched in South America.”
🇨🇱🌋🇩🇪⚡🇨🇱
Chile owes this to the Prussian culture, perhaps the last representatives of that culture.
The helmet that is normally associated with Nazi Germany, was actually used in 1916 and was called Stahlhelm, therefore it has nothing to do with Nazi ideology.
I did my military service in Colombia in 1981 in an MP batallion. Surprisingly, our helmet was the WWI M1916 version. I believe it was used for a few more years in the 80s.
The plastic „Stahlhelme“ for the german fireservice are still in Production and in very wide use today. My own firehelmet is also one of theese more modern models. They are proven and very practically.
German Firefighter here, many Fire Departments still use the "Stahlhelm"-Version, including myself. It's more Common in the volunteer FD's on the Countryside, but in Bavaria it seems like every FD has only these lol.
If it's a good design, why would you change it?
Always wanted one of those helmets. Great design to this day.
2:47 Surprisingly, at the 1987 GDR parade, they played Gustaf Mannerheim’s favorite song (March of the Hakkapeliittas). Relations between Finland and East Germany were then better than now with Russia.
Finland's military attaché even got an honorary mention in the memoirs of Colonel-General Horst Stechbarth, head of East Germany's Land Forces.
The most iconic military helmet of all time !!!
for real
@Chopper honor guard ROTC units in my alma mater have those type of helmets.
@@shaider1982 Source? Interested to see.
Those marching Chilean soldiers look every bit as fearsome and intimidating as their Wehrmacht predecessors. CHILLING.
Immer Bereit. Justt. in. case of.
In this case, appearances can be/are deceiving. Only truly fearsome troops wearing those helping & who simultaneously backed up that fearsome look with superb combat action & skills was the Wehrmacht
Mark continues to teach me things that my education system had failed to teach. Cheers Mark! 🍻
3:27 The firefighters version of the Stahlhelm is not made out of plastic but rather aluminium, standard issued with an acrylic visor and a nylon neck protection flap. As a matter of fact it probably still is the most used firefighter helmet in Germany, only FD of larger citys adapting newer style helmets. The old M35 style helmet will most likely stick further around for quite some time, not least since many german fire fighters and other emergency forces prefer it to the newer ones.
Felton makes an awful lot of errors, and a lot of these videos are plagiarized.
We adopted the aluminium version for our rescue service again, too. Reason being: if it falls and dents you don't have to scrap it (unlike the case with composite materials)
Well that's pretty convenient timing, just posted a video on my own channel about a German M40 Luftwaffe. Not quite post war but still Stahlhem related.. Love your videos Mark.
Here in Chile, the army in general is based on german stuffs, and j think it looks amazing
From U.K. it does my friend. It really does.
As a german myself im glad you guys retain the Prussian doctrine. Well i guess i can say chile is more german than the germany itself
Genocide chique.
@@christianjunhoffman9142 :)🇨🇱🤝🇩🇪
Damn sharp looking! Far better looking than the US Navy dress uniforms in my opinion. Sure they are traditional, but they look like pajamas to me. The service uniform, also called peanut butters, looks and wears much better.
Another great production by Mark Felton, I enjoy them all!
Its fun to watch the Chilean military parade troops goose-stepping while wearing Prussian/Wehrmacht uniforms complete with Stalhelms but its also a very bizarre military tradition as well. They even play German military music and sing in German! Truly strange. And no, this didn't start with Pinochet. It predates his rule. Germans, what do you think about this tradition in Chile? Comments?
all begins in 1890s with the reform of the chilean army by prusians officers. in that moment the ECH change the old Napoleon french tradition to a most advance prusian tradition. the suport of germany in the victorious pacific war in 1879-83, the only colony super power who suport Chile, is another reason.
also you must count the huge german colony in Chile since 19 century.
Chile take the best to emulate in their armed forces: the army is prusian style (but now with otan doctrine and equipment), the navy is like british royal navy, and the air force is like the usaf.
No body here sing in germán ! Líes!
@@Andres.0772 estas equivocado , no has ido a un concierto de Rammstein
@@Andres.0772 They are translated to our language in order to transmit the message of the song but lyrics are the same Many , as me sing it in german. Bis Bald ,, if you know what it means
Mr Felton only you my good man could make a great doc' about something as humble as a steel helmet !!! excellent
Best looking helmet ever in my opinion and very effective.