I have written about quite a few ersatz items already, so will not repeat all about the why’s and when’s about ersatz production. However, once again: The ersatz production was early war, not “last ditch” as many believe. That is a myth. When it became clear that the war would drag on longer than planned for, and that lots more materiel and men would be needed, and there was not enough capacity for production and not enough raw materials, ersatz production started.
Pickelhaube were made of leather, and curing leather takes time. The Germans had not planned for such need of leather as they suddenly had, so started making ersatz pickelhaube in 1914 already. As with other ersatz, what was made was what manufacturers who changed to war production could make. Pickelhaube were made from rabbit felt, steel plate, cork, even cardboard… As for head protection they offered virtually none, but they looked the part, they had to make do with those.
These two examples are made of rabbit fur felt. Hatters were equipped to make such, they are basically hard felt hats. In 1914 and until the parts ran out in 1915, they had model 1895 brass fittings. Later they had model 1915 grey painted steel fittings. The 1915 has a removable spike. Quite a few are found with a mixture of brass and steel parts, as all they had would have to be used. No time for niceties.
There are many variations of these, and configurations. Note that my Model 1915 has the visor trim and backstrap while my 1895 does not. They are found with or without visor trim, with or without backstrap, irrespective of whether they are fitted with brass or steel.
Yes, these saw frontline use! During the desperate ersatz days all that could be used was used. When leather production caught up with them, so pickelhaube could again be made of leather, ersatz production slowed and ended. The ersatz pickelhaube were increasingly rotated back to the rear echelon.
I like such odd items, the ersatz stuff fascinates me with all its variations. So, here are some odd helmets…
