Helmet Ballistic Test: East German M56/76 Steel Helmet- 2nd Edition

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[@jackhawthorn4799]

Someone recently said to me that old/used M56 helmets and steel ones in general are not fit for purpose(when they must be because otherwise they wouldn't have been issued in the first place) - but here we can see an M56(which must be at least 40 years old) holding up against numerous threats including 7.62x25 tokarev - meaning after all these years it still has a IIIA protection rating like many modern kevlar helmets(so irrefutably IS fit for purpose with regard to protection from shrapnel). Helmet 1 Critic 0

[@comentedonakeyboard]

East-Germany wins! And this time even without Doping

[@Bronasaxon]

Wasn’t that done at the insistence of the Soviets?

[@chaowingchinghongfingshong3109]

These liners were actually designed to pop off under stress :) For one to lessen the impact of an incoming round and second to prevent an enemy soldier to strangle you in hand to hand combat with your helmet strap

[@HerrWayne45]

I was totally surprised by it stopping .357 I had zero hope about that but even more so with 7.62x25.

[@usmcgrunt_1944]

DDR soldier gets hit in the head with a .45 ACP: Scheiße! Mein helmet!

[@minhducnguyen9276]

Not only the NVA helmet provide good protection against pistol, it's very cheap for the protection it provided. Because of the simple cone shape, the NVA helmet only need one stamping step to be formed instead of having to pass through the stamping machine 2-3 more times.

[@MrHrKaidoOjamaaVKJV]

Awesome insightful test guys! Being a life long Miliitary helmet afactinado like you guys as well as having worn and tested several Steel and Kevlar helmets throughout my Military service careers for both the USA and Republic of Estonia. I think you are doing a noble needed deed with your various helmet testing videos. Military Steel/Metal and Kevlar helmets are an excellent personal safety protective devices to have access to. As a person can use such to protect one's head from a Hail Storm to falling Tree limbs to Building debris etc. The 1st helmet, that I wore in Military service was the US M1 in the US Army and it was terrible. As to the one size fits all US M1 helmet liner harness system that was worn out and the one size fits all did not fit,seat itself properly. That damn thing's inner harness suspension constantly got loose wobbling around distracted me and and gave me constant headaches. Years later in 1995 when I was serving in the then fledging Estonian Defense Forces Army which we created from scratch and we had a hodge podge of various helmets and equipment from different countries origins. In the EDF, I wore the East German M56/76 helmet, the Finnish/ Swedish 37-65 helmet,the SSh-60 helmet and the SSh-68 helmet. I also ballistically tested the East German M56 several times and found it overall to live up to it's reputation of being an excellent protective helmet. I found the East German M56/76 helmet to be the best over all helmet of all, of the various helmets that I wore during my Military service time. Just as you , I found discovered as you did, that it depends on the batch of steel how the helmets were made as to their ballistic protection performance in resisting compromise. It has been claimed that the East German M56 helmet was alledgedy made of a Steel/ Titanium Mixture. I believe that this claim could indeed be factual with certain batches of the M56 helmet however not everyone or all of the batches of M56 helmets. Mr. Erich Kiesen, had a spot on brilliant idea to resurrect the Whermacht's experimental M44/45 Bll helmet for the newly established GDR NVA. To become the M56/76 helmet which is the most overall best protective steel helmet design of the time. It would be interesting to find out if the East German government made any experimental prototype M56/76 with a US M1 helmet type of double shell system. As to having a well designed ballistic resistant composit material as an inner helmet liner in various sizes that are well designed and made. Such a properly dedigned dual shell helmet system could be an effective soultion to the problem of Rivets compromising as well could be also used as a practical Parade helmet as well. My personal experiences as a Soldier, having worn both the US PASGT and GDR NVA M56/76. Is that the East German M56/76 helmet was superior to the US PASGT. As to the reguards of the Pin Pointed un proportional heavy weight of the PASGT on the Soldier. That will interfere with the Soldier, casusing Soldiers to expend extra needed energy and causing neck strain and even possible neck spine injury over time under the extreme fluid stress movements of the Soldier. Especially in multiple prolonged prone position situations as well as; getting quickly up and down in different angles with the human body and the un proportional pin pointed weight of the US PASGT weighing on the neck spine of the Soldier wearer. The US PASGT manual states that after a year's time of exposure to Sunlight and Rain the, PASGT Kevlar helmet loses some to allot of it's ballistic protection. Based upon the totality of discovery of my research and my own personal testing, I did recommend that the GDR/ DDR NVA M56 Helmet be adapted by the then fledging Estonian Defense Forces Army back in 1995. As to it's known superior ballistic protection and available at the time. An American Militaria Historian author was in the process of writing a book about the East German M56 Helmet and reached out to the Estonian Defense Forces Army where I was tasked to respond. I did and he has photos of me wearing the DDR NVA M56 helmet for his book publication. In 1991 as a US Army Military Police assigned to Customs Duty at Stuttgart international airport . On one occasion I got to converse with a member of the unified German Border Guard who was a former East German Border Guard. During the conversation he told me that the East German government experimented with a composit material like Kevlar M56/76 helmet which was said to have good test results. However the upgrade for GDR government was not affordable. I would like to see a photo and read the conclusion of the test results of the alleged/ DDR NVA composit Kevlar Ballistic helmet. Believe me Mike, you guys testing on the various Steel and composit material Military Helmets is very important and much needed. The US DoD or other countries should hire you guys as consultants! Good job well done! Thank you for your dedicated insightful work! Best Wishes Keep up the good needed work. Safe Journeys.

[@gamecubekingdevon3]

this exemplary was almost worth an average kevlar helmet, i mean, .357magnum and 7.62X25 are not weak rounds. (NIJ II and more than NIJ IIIA respectively)

[@jackhawthorn4799]

A steel helmet that performs just as well/better than modern kevlar/aramid helmets(as seen by testing here) but without the massive backface deformation. This is why i'm buying them AND reinforcing them with kevlar composite like an Ssh68n.

[@DavidTurner-ih2om]

How do you do that

[@kaaosaf]

I bought one of these at the markets in Australia for $10 and used it as a bicycle helmet for a year. It weighed a tonne!

[@MikeB128]

They're not that heavy.

[@Takeshi357]

Would that even be useful as a bicycle helmet? They're designed for an entirely different type of impact absorption.

[@Kaliumes]

⁠@@Takeshi357The NVA units adopted M56 as a „Kradhelm“ for motorcycle users, usually additional paddings and chinstrap systems were applied to enhance their protectiveness. Yet these helmets are still less effective in reducing the damage resulting from impact. So basically true, they are not a good bump helmet😂

[@alexeywulph7389]

Wow, Devin's doing some really good hits!

[@MikeB128]

How did you see this video?

[@alexeywulph7389]

@@MikeB128 Once the romanian helmet video came up, I looked at the playlist, and it was there, despite being unlisted.

[@MikeB128]

@@alexeywulph7389 Hmmm.. Weird. Well, you get "first" on this vid haha.

[@amadeusofficial9736]

A good surplus store in Italy sold these for 20 euros brand new. Did not buy, instead picking a Czech Helmet because was running out of stock. Two days after, M56 helmets went sold out, and those damn - yet cool - Czech stuff got resupplied. I still cry

[@Abuyahya98]

RIP

[@Mr.Z1989]

20€? Damn. I just bought it for 70€.

[@loganwillis4871]

Mike “ I want shoot the golfer” Devin “NoOo”

[@MrWhite-rp6wd]

the m56 is actually a third Reich patent. this helmet "B II." but was no longer delivered in 1945. The NVA then took it over in 1956 and developed it further. the best steel helmet!

[@SashaTheDog]

No, the third Reich variant didnt have such an angle on the helmet, it was more rounded and square in shape from the side.

[@hansmustermann6524]

@@SashaTheDog there is a picture of wehrmacht soldiers wearing exactly this helmet for testing in the field. it has the same form

[@MikeB128]

@@hansmustermann6524 Yeah, post the source.

[@hansmustermann6524]

@@MikeB128 die deutsche wochenschau 733 minute 5:48. i've even seen a better view of it in another wochenschau where you can see the whole helmet but i cant find the episode of this wochenschau

[@hansmustermann6524]

@@MikeB128 im still searching for this picture that i was initially reffering to, if i find it i will post a link here.

[@BaronVonPurp]

Hot damn! She done ate that .357 mag! German engineering at its finest!

[@clancywoodard310]

Hey Mike what happened to that series you did years ago called rants with helmets that was pretty cool I wish you would do more of those

[@traumajock]

Put some modern padding in it, weld some bales to it for the straps. You'd have a badass combat helmet. Look like a hopeless incel, but not die when your helmet gets hit. Tradeoffs.

[@MrHrKaidoOjamaaVKJV]

I can also envision a two shell system like the US M1 helmet. With the DDR/ GDR NVA M56 helmet. Where the inner plastic resin composit helmet could also act as a Parade Helmet. I will do my research to see if the East German Army NVA made any such prototypes.

[@travis9062856]

I’ve noticed in all these steel helmet ballistic tests shape helps in particular slopes to deflect the bullet off. Would the same principle work with Kevlar helmets? Would a Kevlar helmet in the shape of this East German helmet improve its protection against let’s say a us ECH?

[@MrHrKaidoOjamaaVKJV]

Years ago when I was a US Army Military Police assigned to Customs duties in Stuttgart International Airport, back then in 1991, a recently former East German Border Guard. Who was integrated into the United German Boarder Guard told me that the East German government conducted tests on a Kevlar type composit material M56 shape helmet. Which the former DDR Border Guard said had excellent ballistic protection. However he said it was not affordable to the East German government to mass produce. I would like to find a photo and read the test results of that experimental East German M56 Kevlar composit helmet.

[@Random_Dude4486]

@@MrHrKaidoOjamaaVKJV oh, thats nice. Wish the Bundeswehr aeopted it.

[@StevenRecknagelMusic]

Glad to see more of these Really enjoying the live-streams too

[@johnb.8622]

I'd rather take an old proven helmet than a 100$ "Kevlar Helmet" from wish. This thing is pretty good for it's age

[@MikeB128]

If you watch my other ballistic test videos, the "Kevlar Helmets" do quite well against direct hits....

[@yanot80]

So scary to watch. Ricochet is a helluva thing, super unpredictable. I’d shoot at least while wearing body armor, or better from behind some solid cover if we’re talking about this close of a distance

[@MikeB128]

If you're that "scared", don't watch my videos...

[@yanot80]

@@MikeB128 don't be like that, man. I'm just worried about you. I do love and thank you for your content and don't want anything bad to happen to you, that's all

[@MikeB128]

@@yanot80 Yeah I get that, but what purpose does this sort of comment serve? Obviously I know the risk, and so does Devin. If you stay tuned, there is a video where I did get hit, which is the first time it's happened in several hundred shots of me testing helmets...

[@yanot80]

@@MikeB128 the purpose is to ask you to be a bit more caruful, as you can't be 'too careful' :D I will definitely stay tuned for more videos, because as i stated before - i enjoy your contend and the way you deliver it, i just don't want you to get hurt while doing. Much respect to you sir and keep up the great work! PS: Didn't want it so sound like a backsitting, sorry if that's what you perceived it to be.

[@MikeB128]

@@yanot80 All good. I just get the comments almost every time I post one of these vids and grow tired of them. Hint, it will have a bit of a Swedish flare to the title in a couple weeks where I actually got hit from a bounce.

[@DDR-Soldaten]

So now I know my helmet isn’t shit now lol

[@Riceball01]

It's so rare to see any of the helmets, much less a steel one, actually stop the 7.62 Toakrev round. Pretty cool. I wonder how well that helmet would stand up to a .50 round (.50 AE, 500 S&W Magnum, etc.)? But I imagine that you're not much into collecting more modern pistols, much less hand cannons. In lieu of .50 handguns, do you think you have the funds to get some Leheigh Defense Xtreme Penetrator rounds for testing on really tough helmets like this one?

[@MikeB128]

If a .357 defeated it, I'm not going to waste over $1 a round just to prove I have a small dick by owning a .50 AE......

[@sionhughes3335]

@@MikeB128 haha fair point. I never understood the point of the smaller 50 cal rounds.

[@The_Conspiracy_Analyst]

@@MikeB128 Does that statement imply you do indeed have a small dick, but aren't willing to prove it? HAHAH

[@michaelgross7016]

Back in the mid 1990s I clearly remember these helmets being sold in the Cheaper Than Dirt catalog . They were new, in box with a camo net and 2 other covers: one camo, and another cover that was police or ceremonial...it was bright. The whole set cost 19.95!!!!!!!! Now u can't touch a real nice condition used one for less than 80 bucks....maybe you get a net with it. damn, I knew I should have gotten one. I kept looking at it, but never called my order in (back then you had to call them and read off your credit card number....lol) I thought it had potential being so sloped; but that made it too wide.

[@yogibro6442]

Had my mom get me one of those 20$ ones for a Christmas present lol! She wore it for Christmas pictures haha, it was a fun time. I was collecting eg uniform parts at the time to put on a mannequin, poor man's hallway knight for fun lol, never got the mannequin though.

[@hansmustermann6524]

I'm german and i have 5 of those lying arround. The first one was given to me by my mother who got it out of a garbage bin in east berlin after the end of the gdr. The other 4 i bought for 2 bucks each after i saw this video and what they are capable of xD

[@delta-zulu]

Good work keep it up !!!

[@HuyNguyen-hz6gx]

Mike B: Why use 2 words when I can use 20.

[@MikeB128]

Then don't fucking watch..... It's that simple. Move along and bitch somewhere else.

[@pfcparts7728]

You thinking of ever doing an M1 one day?

[@MikeB128]

Eh hurr eh durr

[@Bquiz77]

This is why it’s still used today

[@ЮнгерЮнгер]

Офігена каска!

[@TheRangaTanGaming]

I’ve seen those hungry eyes in my dogs before, you wanted to shoot that gopher bad.

[@Thomas-lv9se]

Very interesting tests - those helmets were sold for about 5DM back in the 90's here in Germany and we as boys for sure bought more than one each 😀 I still have one... The design is based on the M45 helmet (in development since 1943) and it is actually quite acceptable for what it is. Here's an nice little video about it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpeagneJf7lnmKs

[@CaptainPantys]

I guess your helmet is actually pretty awesome?

[@TheMosinCrate]

Do you sell the wood posts I see the helmet on? I would check your site but I'm pretty lazy. Also do you offer a discount to people who did not serve? You're welcome.

[@MikeB128]

GTFO clownpenisfart.

[@iamrealtarded]

4:56 my jaw straight up dropped

[@brettanderson6743]

Helmets with bullet marks/holes are worth more!

[@detroitandclevelandfan5503]

Dang and I have one on the way.

[@zanedunn3601]

Fun video!!

[@King.Leonidas]

surprised that level 3 helmet are only cop helmets so far

[@Rokaize]

I can not find these anywhere anymore. Except way overpriced on eBay. Sucks.

[@criffermaclennan]

That's gonna leave yer ears ringing

[@gorkem1725]

better than blowing your head

[@luissantiago5163]

Oh nice. Morning

[@azeke8]

I wonder how hard the steel used in this helmet is. I’d guess its about 400 Brinnel.

[@hansmustermann6524]

the harder the steel the more easy its gonna crack. i have no idea how hard 400 brinnel is but you want a steel that can absorb the kinetic energy and not break because its to stiff

[@darko_dulic]

When will these be in stock?

[@ranxie-ir9yc]

I wanna buy one

[@Max-rk1oy]

Also what year was this helmet

[@Historicalfan-ec4dv]

It was issued from 1956 to 1976 (I think)

[@chaowingchinghongfingshong3109]

@@Historicalfan-ec4dv Nah 1956 to 1990

[@Charles-A]

1:23 dat flinch

[@jorgec.a3123]

Dumb question, don't be mean. Is that fixable if someone were to put the money and effort?

[@MikeB128]

You're right, dumb question. :)

[@jorgec.a3123]

@@MikeB128 but is it? Could the dings be fixed like the ones in cars?

[@shmeckle666]

@@jorgec.a3123 adds character to them anyway, hou dont want it "fixed".

[@Tounushi]

Remember, the design was drawn in 1944.

[@MikeB128]

What's your point?

[@Tounushi]

@@MikeB128 Nazi helmet. Used by communists.

[@MikeB128]

@@Tounushi I'll ask again, what's your point?

[@shmeckle666]

@@Tounushi it was East Germany, so yeah, that checks out. What about it?

[@vorthur4028]

@@Tounushi so? If something is good is good, no matter who invented it

[@Mr.Z1989]

You are way too close to the deflecting target!

[@MikeB128]

Yes, I'm aware. I actually took a ricochet on another video. Since then, we wear body armor while doing these tests.

[@productguru8323]

it'd be closer to reality if you let a dummy wear the helmet, and do the tests.

[@MikeB128]

Okay, then you send me a dummy and I'll do it so you're super happy.

[@winwin7847]

皮實奈糙 好東西啊