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The study and evaluation of
wartime helmet decals is one of the most fascinating aspects
of collecting World War II German headgear. The number,
type, color, and purpose of each type of helmet decal is a key
element in understanding whether or not a helmet is original
and to which arm-of-service it belonged.
During World War II helmet
insignia was used extensively throughout the German military
system. The application of helmet insignia originated
during World War I when hand painted black and white shields
were placed on the left side of steel helmets worn by the
Kaiser's elite Prussian Guard. Following World War I,
the Reichswehr Army expanded the use of hand painted helmet
insignia as a means to identify the district or state in which
a given military unit was assigned.
When Adolf Hitler decreed that
a new national military was to be established there came the
need for insignia that could independently distinguish helmets
of the Heer, Luftwaffe, and Kriegsmarine. Symbolism was
a primary element in the motivation efforts behind National
Socialism. Naturally this served to continue the drive
for military helmet insignia in the Wehrmacht and also the
Waffen-SS. The regulations governing the application of
helmet insignia was distributed in the many military
handbooks, manuals, and official orders that aided military
personnel in understanding basic uniform standards.
Between 1933 and 1945 the use
of helmet insignia was not just limited to the military.
Helmet decals were also used by civilian and political groups
throughout National Socialist Germany. Their helmets
were typically adorned with well-designed decals that denoted
the organization to which their members belonged. These groups
included both men and women who served in the capacity of air
defense volunteers, factory guards, and red cross personnel
among many others. Most auxiliary units that wore
protective helmets utilized some form of decal insignia until
regulations or wartime efforts no longer required their use.
Much to the fascination of
collectors, there are variety of decal styles (and sometimes
variants) among all the possible types that exist. This
variety is due in part to the number of manufacturers that
produced helmet decals during World War II. The
majority of helmet decals were produced by well established
printers both small and large. These printers were
generally experienced in lithographic art design and color
printing. Many also operated multiple print shops while
some also served as wholesale book publishers. Each firm
was granted a contract for the production of helmet insignia
by the Armed Forces Procurement Office (Wehrmacht-Beschaffungsamt)
under the direction of the Chief of the Armed Forces (Oberkommando
der Wehrmacht).
Original wartime decals were
printed to exacting requirements. Postwar comparison of
unapplied examples proves that precise standards in size and
color were accomplished. Decals were printed and
distributed to armed forces personnel including retail shops,
drug stores, and clothing dealers that were authorized to sell
military insignia. The cost for a set of decals was quite
minimal.
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