|
Factory Code
Stamps |
|
More than 25 Million
German combat helmets were manufactured during the Second World War.
This massive effort was accomplished by five independently owned metal
fabrication plants with experience in steel production. The
largest producer of steel helmets (Stahlhelme) was the firm of
Eisenhüttenwerke
located in the city of Thale. The Thale
firm and its engineers played a major role in the initial design and
prototyping of the M1935 steel combat helmet. Production records
indicate that nearly 20 Million helmets were manufactured between
early 1939 and May 1944. Beginning as early as 1935,
manufacturers began marking their helmet shells with the initials of
the factory or company names. Over the course of time, several
of these changed making it initially appear as though there were more
than five manufacturers. The change in the factory designated
name and marking had to do with the fact that the company names
changed. These factory names were stamped directly into the
helmet shell using two or three letters. Next to the letters was
stamped the metric shell size of the helmet. In addition to
these markings, helmets also received a stamped number in the rear
center of the helmet's flange or skirt. This second set of
numbers indicated the production number of the entire lot to which the
helmet could be attributed. In some cases, the Quist firm also
produced helmets bearing a "DN" stamp in the same location. The
"DN" referred to the patent identification associated with the
helmet's model or type. It should be noted that on occasion a
helmet can be found bearing no markings whatsoever. If the
helmet is a wartime shell, the explanation generally falls into to
possibilities. The first is that the markings are there but
shallow or buried beneath a thick coat of paint. The second
relates to the fact that some helmets do not appear to have been
marked at all. This may be related to a factory error, or
something done intentionally. No clear rational has been found
to explain this uncommon occurance.
|
|
|
Overview
Each section of German-Helmets.com
is divided into separate Information Tracks that outline important
details, facts, and historical notes pertaining to steel helmets used by
the German Armed Forces during World War II.
Information Tracks are organized
by subject matter and their content is directly related to the service arm
or organization to which each topic is related. Topic areas that
bridge one subject matter to another are cross linked within each Information Track.
This
Information Track provides historical facts pertaining to factory code
markings 1935-1945.
Individual links related to this subject are outlined below.
|
