What’s Up With Those Weird Spiky WWI German Helmets?

[@TodayIFoundOut]

Go to thld.co/sheath_brainfood_0622 and use code BRAINFOOD at checkout to get 20% off your order! Thanks to SHEATH for sponsoring today’s video.

[@warrenpabbott]

You don't actually wear these, do you? Because I've had some and they were not good. Actually made chafing worse. Cool video, otherwise. People sure are odd.

[@TremereTT]

"Überzug" is not only this cloth to cover the shiny brass, it's everything that is attached to a object or subject by pulling it over... it is also literally translated as pullover!.... but more appropriately tralates as "cover" or even "condom" would not be incorrect I guess.

[@robinderoos1166]

Its meant to squeeze lemons on, thats why prussians always looked so sour

[@robinderoos1166]

@@warrenpabbott just mount the spike to your other headwear and wear a fake mustache to look super posh!

[@Tounushi]

Would you happen to know or do you have the reference materials to find out the origins of the Litzen collar insignia used by different European guards regiments and the post-1921 German army as a whole? I've been trying to figure it out, but the earliest form of it just appears on Russian imperial guards units between 1803 and 1806, after which it picked up popularity and endures to this day. Various household, life and ceremonial guards units wear it across Europe on their parade and ceremonial uniforms, while Germany uses it as collar insignia for all army ranks except generals (they use the button hole decoration for the Prussian 26th Infantry Regiment instead) and Russia uses it to indicate officers and the Kremlin Guard. Litzen, Kapellenlitzen, petlitsi (Петлицы), guards' lace, etc. have been used in the references I can find online, but no answers as to where such a distinctive and specific design sprung from.

[@christianbuczko1481]

When helmets were 1st introduced, head wounds went through the roof. It caused a scandal, there was an outcry to ban them as a result. They nearly did until someone pointed out the reason head wounds were so high was because they were not dead as had been happening without helmets...

[@MijmerMopper]

So similar to the planes that returned with bullet holes and got the parts with no bullet holes reinforced, because the planes with bullet holes at those points did not return.

[@Koozomec]

Survivor bias ?

[@travelinghermit]

Uh, so you mean the copper age?

[@chrstfer2452]

@@Koozomec exactly. Same as those planes britain was flying in ww2, where the planes were coming back with tons of damage to one section, so at first thats where they armored them until someone pointed out that armoring where the damage was on the planes that *came back* was the opposite of what they should be doing. Those planes were just lucky to not have been damaged in the places that would have brought down the plane. They were examples of where it was ok to get hit rather than where the damage was concentrated. Its an important lesson every decision maker should be aware of.

[@JasperJanssen]

@@travelinghermit WWI, for the British military.

[@darthplagueis13]

Funny how two of the most prolific steel helmet designs in WW1 were basically just revivals of medieval helmets. Goes to show that medieval armourers really knew what they were doing, for their designs to suddenly become relevant again 500 years later.

[@isaiahcampbell488]

The technology tree often doubles and triples itself just in new materials. There were electric cars in the early 1800's, an external combustion motor used on a moon rover was invited in the 1770s, wind power is borderline ancient, the diesel engine was supposed to be originally powered on bio fuel, ect. We often get better materials, figure out some more science, and then reinvent things that have been around for a while. P.S. pretty cool really.

[@peger]

well shape of human shape didn't change

[@VonOzbourne]

The irony being that the current U.S. *Advanced* Combat Helmet, with the exception of the flared out bit at the neck, is basically just an update of the Stahlhelm.

[@danrooc]

Yes, medieval master armour makers were outstanding crafstsmen and achieved substantial improvements on their designs and techniques. Although external shapes may lead to think XXth century helmets were directly inspired by those venerable designs, the real issue was to sustain mass helmet production in a scale never seen before, now based on scientifically advanced quality and performance tests along the comprehensive economic view of the industrialized world.

[@treblerebel2362]

I heard this too. Basically when helmets were needed again they just went to the royal armouries old pamphlets and literally remade them. The German helmets had the visor removed and the British were modeled on 15th century infantryman lids

[@lauriepenner350]

They were trying to intimidate foes by imitating the most fearsome mythical creature, the unicorn. The proposed rainbow mane was nixed by the higher ups, though.

[@scottbubb2946]

Too bad. That would have been terrifying.

[@alexchu3599]

They did make a rainbow mane prototype but anyone who saw it was crippled by a fit of laughter. The higher ups deemed it too dangerous as it impacted allied troops as much as it did enemies. In the end, they made a blind guy destroy it as well as all traces it ever existed. They found some guy who was temporarily blinded by mustard gas in WWI. It turned out he wanted to be an artist, even applied to an art school and upon being told what he did he went a bit loopy.

[@no8to8racism]

Everyone knows mustard gas is unicorn farts

[@macswanton9622]

I figured they got embarrassed when people would say "You've got a point there, but if you wear a hat no one will notice... -wait."

[@TheD33dz]

Ah ok that's where Takashi 69 gets it

[@daviddavidson2357]

The real reason the Pickelhaube was discontinued was that soldiers kept getting injured when playing leapfrog.

[@epapuelvalve3250]

haha

[@carolramsey6287]

This wasn't a problem in the UK. The problem here was all those public school educated officers who jumped too low when playing leapfrog with other ranks.

[@AQuestioner]

Their bottoms must have hurt

[@13infbatt]

Thanks for the chuckle chief

[@Zett76]

Or, as they call it, „Bockspringen“. :)

[@AliothAncalagon]

Expected to learn something about Prussian military quirks, ended up learning something about helmet designs in WW1 overall. Kinda baffling how bad the head protection of basically every army back then was.

[@duanesamuelson2256]

New Era and type of warfare. While there had been Artillery (mortars primarily) that came in from a high angle previously it previously had not been used so extensively in trench warfare situations. It never crossed anyone's mind that you would have shrapnel coming straight down until it did. Even then most shells didn't blow up overhead, fuzes were set by time and any error would save people on the other end. If the VT fuze had been invented before or during ww1 jnstead of ww2 it could have resulted in the death toll at being perhaps twice as high (imagine almost all the shells blowing up at 20' above the ground instead of 10 or 15%).

[@foo219]

In their defense, the helmets were mostly designed to deflect sword blows.

[@paulherman5822]

Check out Matt Easton about helmets. He covers them from ancient times to today. Archaeologist and HEMA instructor, here on KZbin under Scholagladitoria. Or Tod Cutler, who has made pieces for English Heritage, like a bunch in Dover Castle. There's difference because of the original use. And today's ballistic armour and helmets are not impervious, either. There's always improvements and room for improvements.

[@AliothAncalagon]

@@foo219 Which is often repeated but as someone who actually does sword fighting I always struggled to even imagine how that stupid point on your head is going to help you in any way xD

[@foo219]

@@AliothAncalagon I always wondered that too. I prefer the sallet helmets.

[@TheLobstersoup]

The German M16 steelhelmet was already used during WWI and it looks remarkably modern both in design and materials. WWI was really a transition from wars fought before and the Pickelhaube was the last sign of German monarchy in the world war. There are versions of the Pickelhaube that have a giant Lionhead on top, too. I'm not sure who was wearing those but all these helmets look highly symbolic and show the high status the military had during the German Kaiserreich.

[@windhelmguard5295]

interestingly the stahlhelm design is still being used by german fire fighters to this day, albeit painted glow in the dark green, outfitted with a leather flap protecting the neck and a clear face shield, which is held on with a steel spring. you can see it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWfRnWiEobObhdk i was fortunate enough to still use one of these things, although my department has since downgraded to shitty plastic helmets which suck ass because their face shields are WAY too small for an adult male.

[@michaelmerck7576]

It's the hogans heroes hatrack for colonel Hogan's officers cap

[@trevormillar1576]

The Pickelhaube helmet was originally designed for the Prussian cavalry, the Spike on top was intended to deflect sword cuts; of course the designers had not encountered machine guns or poison gas...

[@brittakriep2938]

@@trevormillar1576 ??? The leather version was worn by Line Infantry and Dragoons/ Dragoner ( once being mounted infantry) , the steel/ tombak versions by Cuirassiers , some units of heavy saxon cavallry and some palace units, like Leibgendarmen. Artillry used a similar helmet, but with a ball for accident prevention. Light infantry , machine gun units and ,technical troops' ( engineers, transport units, railway,, telephone, telegraph, radio, fortress, and airforce ground personal) used the Tschako. Lancers wore Tschapka, a leather helmet with a tip down pyramide Dekoration, reminding to polish orgins of modern lancers ( see caps oft current polish presidents guards). Hussars wore Hussarenmütze ( a cylindrical fur cap, strengthen either with cardboard tube or thin wire mash ?). Sailors hat typical sailors cap. Officers a cap, similar to current police caps and ordinary soldiers a round cap, usually when not fighting. In colonies, german soldiers wore a hat, black soldiers a ,Fez', and chinese colonial police chinese hats and caps. Soldiers from southsea colonies often no headgear. Forgotten : Palace units also used headgear from before 1870, and a prussian guard unit 18th century grenadiers caps, also admirals and bavarian generals a hat, i don' t know the name.

[@Jolis_Parsec]

My dad’s an amateur military historian and he’s managed to find a couple of these for the local museum to put on display. Definitely a rather unique style of helmet that sadly is nowhere near as protective as the Darth Vader-esque stahl helm that everybody’s favorite villains of classic Call of Duty games would go on to adopt as a standard part of their kit once WWII rolled around a couple decades later.

[@garywheeler7039]

An advantage of the British "Brody" helmet is it directed rain water well away from a soldier's collar. Important in a rainy climate. The American M1 helmet on the other hand it is said to direct water down a soldiers jacket collar almost. Around the back of the neck and down the back. The German steel helmet was also more difficult to produce, requiring several pressings from different dies to make the complicated shape.

[@michaelsommers2356]

The Brody helmet, on the other hand, provided no protection to the sides or back of the head. Notice that they aren't used anymore.

[@garywheeler7039]

@@michaelsommers2356 : agreed. At about D-day thay used something called the "Turtle" helmet which had a little more side protection.

[@tonyclough9844]

The British brody helmet was designed to deflect exploding shrapnel in ww 1, which was endured every day showering down.

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

in the late 1980s, I was lucky enough to have a private tour of house dorn in the Netherlands the last home of former emperor Wilhelm II of Germany. rules in the 1980s were not what they are today and when kaiser Wilhelms pickelhaube was shown I was even allowed to hold it (with gloves) definitely an extra on the bucket list. nowadays an action like holding this historical object is for conservators only, a mere mortal like you and me may only see it behind glass so, I was indeed lucky to touch real history!

[@tinovanderzwanphonocave544]

@CountryCooking having worn this tunic I can say yes this is all true and worse the cotton was cheap and the wool fibers would poke through still giving you a rash giving the fleas and lice plenty of nice fresh punctures to seek out. the german one was even worse for much of the same reasons but the fibers would even penetrate the lined collar giving you lower beard rash without even having a beard (for me at that time 1990ish) but with time the grime would do the trick and dull it down uh, not washing, in this case, is a good thing A you develop a greasy layer on your skin, and B the dried dead skin grease stops the fibers from being a hassle. I was told that when issued a new tunic they would lay it under the gunky old thin mattress in the dugout for a week having multiple guys sleep on it would soften it right up! so remember that one the next time you go re-enactment camping!

[@Civerius]

@@tinovanderzwanphonocave544 n o one gives a fuck dude

[@petervincent4002]

Hi Simon. The German steel helmet of 1916 ( ie coal scuttle ) was based on analysis of German head wounds. The analysis was tabulated through IBM tabulating machines in use since the 1890s as census machines. As an aside tattoo'd numbers on prisoner arms were tabulating card numbers for the prisoner. Interesting book is "IBM and the Holocaust" which mentions the helmet development. Thanks

[@sanctionh2993]

Simon did a video on that 9 months ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4aVnXefepWpras

[@sejembalm]

WW1 steel helmet developments also showed the national characters. From what I remember, the German helmet was designed by a ballistics expert, the French helmet was designed by an artist, and the British helmet was designed by a committee.

[@cathipalmer8217]

😂Sounds about right.

[@CtdUSA]

Love the content as a trucker these videos get me through the long shifts at night going from coast to coast

[@davidpistek6241]

I drive trucks too ,getting loaded right now, this guy has a few podcasts too

[@CtdUSA]

@@davidpistek6241 safe travels brother. Yeah I’ll be honest I wonder where this man finds the time lol

[@ray.shoesmith]

I prefer my truckers to be watching the road rather than youtube videos, but that's just me

[@Dontdoit_]

@@ray.shoesmith yes, because you can’t listen to it without watching. Makes perfect sense.

[@CtdUSA]

@@ray.shoesmith lol not watching the youtube just listening I have youtube premium account where you can close out the device and still hear the audio

[@B-and-O-Operator-Fairmont]

One of the best known pickelhaubes had to be the one on Colonel Klink's desk in Hogan's Heroes. Hogan liked to put his Army Air Force cap on the spike, infuriating Klink. The closing credits had Hogan's cap on Klink's pickelhaube against a red background. Another time he cleaned his pipe with the spike. Still another time he was using the pickelhaube to crack English walnuts. Perhaps the best "desecration" of Klink's pickelhaube was when Hogan surreptitiously placed it in Klink's chair. You can guess the rest. BTW the subtitles were playing while I was watching this, and I saw a dozen or so spellings of "pickelhaube", none of which were correct.

[@MrAranton]

If you go by the subtitles, Germany gets extra point for versatility. Creating a helmet that can also serve as a hub, a hob and a harbour, is quite an achievement!

[@danielreuben1058]

I never thought I would care, or be interested in military helmets. Yet, fact boy has enlightened me. I now know more random facts, with which I will annoy my coworkers. Thanks.

[@tag1462]

Fascinating segment on the history and evolution of helmets. Just a random bit of trivia here, but soldiers have been decorating their head gear for millennia. Usually to show how badass you were.

[@kritizismmusics9737]

Could've called em pecker heads I wonder if they head butted the enemy's with it xD

[@jamalwilburn228]

It was to more or less show how professional your army was

[@tommunyon2874]

My friend's grandfather brought one of these German helmets of WW I vintage when he came to visit. The very old leather had quite a musty odor to it. It was interesting to examine it close-up.

[@7thsealord888]

The Australian War Memorial, in Canberra, has a quite impressive collection of German pickelhaubs (and variants thereof).

[@emmitstewart1921]

Interesting. Several months ago, I asked another channel who invented the helmet liner. Now I know it was Mr. Brodie. During my time in service, every soldier was issued a helmet and liner, but the Helmet was only worn in combat. In non-combat training situations, only the liner was worn. Officers and Noncommissioned officers would spend quite a lot of time painting their helmet liners with glossy dark olive-green paint and applying decals indicating rank and other insignia. I once watched a close order drill team who had their helmet liners chrome plated.

[@Zappo-the-First]

During my time, it was orders from on high which required we wear insignia on our helmets. - painfully dangerous in wartime.

[@bomcabedal]

The steel Kurassier pickelhauben also contained a liner well before WW1, since they were so heavy.

[@TamTran-vw7zm]

Well done overall, but to pick a nit: the pistol fired to rest the Brodie had to be a .455, not a .445 as stated, as this was the standard British sidearm (and therefore calibre) of the era.

[@tomfrazier1103]

See my comment. He was particularly fast & loose with facts in this. He even missed the U.S. Pickelhaube of the 1880s. We adopted our Sam Browne felt hats by the time of our War with Spain, and wore it through the Great War. These were worn by U.S. Forest Service rangers into the 1980s at least, if not now?

[@jessejoyce1295]

Another thing I noticed was that he kept calling it a 'stahlheim' instead of 'stahlhelm', he got it right the first time but then kept saying stahlheim over and over. Very minor error (I don't want to nitpick either), but it sort of grated on my ears every time he said it.

[@Jack_Stafford]

I would forgive the calibre wording, .22 and .38 calibres are often referred to as just 22 and 38.

[@bigal3055]

@@tomfrazier1103 No he didn't. 4:30

[@TeatroGrotesco]

Nice, that is a valid nit to pick, but picking a nit is still what it is.

[@dionh70]

I once worked for a moron who visited myself & an apprentice while we were doing a remodel on a Chase Bank branch down on Pacific Coast Highway in Palos Verdes, close to Torrance, CA. The apprentice was wearing a T-shirt with the Metal Mulisha logo, which is a deformed skull wearing a Kaiser Wilhelm helmet. The company owner lost his goddamn mind, yelling "You can't wear a shirt with a nazi helmet on it in a bank!" 1) The company refused to provide work shirts, so the owner had no right to complain; 2) A Kaiser Wilheml helmet is NOT a nazi helmet, but he was clearly too goddamn stupid to know that; 3) We were construction workers, NOT bank employees, so our apparel was our choice; 4) How the hell does working in a bank branch matter any more than working in any other environment; 5) To top it all off, we were working after-hours while the branch was CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC!

[@alanhilder1883]

The closest it comes to a "Nazi" anything on the shirt is a very dead one.

[@zeruty]

How entitled to believe your employer can't decree terms of your employment, no matter how idiotic he is.

[@dionh70]

@@zeruty How clueless to not understand the rules of the industry or the employment laws of the state in which I was working. Since you know nothing about those, your opinion is worthless.

[@markblocker4565]

@@zeruty , idiocy is a requirement for management in more places than you could imagine. Don't ask me why, it's just an observation.

[@alanhilder1883]

@@zeruty It is a contractor, so the contractor has to go the the contract and see if there is a clause about clothing, if not, inform "head office" that local whose-it is trying to breach the contract and compensation to the contractor is expected for said breach of contract. I think "head office's lawyers will have fun with whose-it.

[@carolramsey6287]

I always thought the British soup dish design was inferior till I discovered it was for falling shrapnel and the wide brim actually gave better protection. When laying down shooting a rifle pushing it back gave better protection to the back of the neck and the shallow curve like the sloping front of a tank meant that a bullet was more likely to glance off.

[@Mar-ty4dx]

My Grandmother used to have one, in her closet when I was a kid, wasn't allowed to touch it.

[@mikescherrer4923]

Did she call it Steely Dan?

[@mikescherrer4923]

@@effy4619 This guy's grandma does not approve.

[@ianalderman9290]

So, how many times did you wear it?

[@Kid_illithid]

In the grim darkness of warhammer 40k, these helms are very fashionable

[@achimdemus-holzhaeuser1233]

Of course, they were designed by the Emperor ( of Germany )

[@williamwelch7]

I always like the 'Hogan's Heroes" image with Hogan's American hat hanging off the spike!

[@brendakrieger7000]

Lol, yep! I know nothink🤣

[@Sevenfeet0]

For most people Gen-X or younger, the American TV show "Hogan's Heroes" title card featuring this military hat was where most people learned about it. It was also a prop piece on Col. Klink's desk as the character was Prussian by birth.

[@Bananaboy994]

Fun Fact: The word for "German" in sign language is still a raised index finger to the forehead, imitating the "Pickelhaube"

[@tpl608]

The group that has the world's largest number of pickle helmets is the USA government. The USA got many warehouses in the WW1 treaty. The USA used them on several big floats with 1000's on them in the NYC parade. We still have them in warehouses. It was replaced because a better helmet gave more protection on the whole head.

[@jessejoyce1295]

Yeah, that's true. Anyone who is interested should check out Mark Felton's KZbin channel, he had a video about this very topic a few weeks or so ago and it's very interesting (that's where I first learned about this, I highly recommend his videos).

[@tpl608]

@@jessejoyce1295 Dr. Fenton is amazing

[@daniel_wilkinson]

Expected to learn something about German helmets. The junk cozies were quite the bonus.

[@adarmus4768]

It is fucking mental that the aesthetic design of the helmets were given so much precedence over its actual practicality.

[@carlmcdaniels1675]

If I recall correctly the "Pickelhaube" style helmets were (and are) used primarily for dress and ceremonial use. The countries that used them ranged from the Germans to the United States (1880's thru 1890's) as well as Latin America. The Germans used tem in early WW1 but had replaced them in use by combat units with the "Coal Scuttle" helmets by 1916. As far as I can determine, US use (US Army) was for Parade & Ceremonial occasions only. There are still some foriegn military units that still use "Pickelhaube" style head gear for Ceremonial purposes.

[@garypellerin5576]

He packed a one-hour lecture into 16:52. Excellent economy of words and time, plus made it informative and interesting.

[@cathipalmer8217]

I look at some of these pictures and hear someone saying, "No, General, you look great! Very distinguished. Very intimidating. Everybody will be extremely impressed."

[@ARIXANDRE]

Designer: "I think I put the bayonet in the wrong place..."

[@officialjoebidenbiggayicec9053]

😉

[@fritzfromsouth5935]

Brazilian army used these helmets a lot, mainly between the years 1888-1896 during the end of the imperial period until the first years of the republic, they were gradually replaced by Slouch hats and field caps, but military police and fire brigades continued to use this helmet well into the 1960s.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

I just remember Benny Hill getting the Germans to salute with hand atop head.

[@altasilvapuer]

Dropping that ad right at the beginning of the video was straight-up ballsy, and I love how cheeky you were with the delivery.

[@scipio109]

weird how they had to relearn the basics of helmet design from the Middle Ages including that you wear metal helmets with a liner 🤔

[@midshipman8654]

kind of, but it makes sense when you see the radical changes in the warfair across that period of time. it makes sense that between medieval, black powder, and modern warfare there are specific commonalities and differences.

[@jamalwilburn228]

It's because armor technology wasn't able to keep up with weapons technology so armor was abandoned. Armor was too heavy and no longer provided any real help with impact being the same as an un armored soldier. It wasn't till the 20th century armor technology could finally compete with weapons.

[@LonMoer]

Always heard it colloquially referred to as the "Kaiser Helmet". And you could have had an 'extra' and mentioned that the "Kaiser Helmet" is the basis for the sign language symbol for German.

[@einalt]

It's called a Pickel Haube and not Kaiser helmet. If you call it a Kaiser helmet in front of a German we will laugh at you.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

@@einalt Wait, Germans have a sense of humor? Since when?

[@incredibleflameboy]

Frankly, I don't want to see the kaisers helmet.

[@einalt]

@@MonkeyJedi99 Of cause we do. Example: what's the difference between an American and an English? The American has perfect fake teeth but cant speak a single word accurate English.

[@paidwitness797]

@@incredibleflameboy neither did Mrs Kaiser With a spike on the end like that!

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

Ugh.. I can't remember what comedy show it was, but they explained the helmet's use by bending forward and charging like a demented unicorn. 😆🦄

[@theq4602]

Think it might have been a episode of pawn stars

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

@@theq4602 🤔 Maybe, I was thinking Montey Python or Kids in the Hall???? Darn, now it's going to drive me crazy until I remember. 🤪

[@gregraines1599]

@@IntrepidFraidyCat Blackadder?

[@IntrepidFraidyCat]

@@gregraines1599 I haven't watched that program (I don't know why, it's on my watchlist). Aaaaaarg😖 My brain is constipated! It will come to me in the middle of the night.

[@darthdmc]

Reminds me of a Simpsons episode (I think the one where Homer joins the US Navy - correct me if I'm wrong.) where a group of German WW1 reenactment soldiers celebrate their graduation by throwing their spiked helmets in the air, only to regret it immediately.

[@DariusFLX]

The first minute of this is by far your best work to date, Simon. Two thumbs up just for that!

[@donaldwatson7698]

Even though it was a show focused on mocking the Nazis of WWII, The producers of "Hogan's Heroes" settled on an image of the long-outdated Pickelhaube with Hogan's cap hanging on the pike to represent Hogan's dominance over the the stalag Germans.

[@scottplumer3668]

Klink was a WWI veteran, as I recall, and he kept one on his desk. I remember Hogan removing the spike and ashing his cigarette in it on occasion.

[@tomfrazier1103]

They were also U.S. full dress in the 1880s. The U.S. adopted a variation of the Brodie helmet in 1917 and we were still wearing them in the initial battles of WWII. I have a picture of one being worn by an attractive smiling Hawaiian woman, at a rakish angle. German civil police have never abandoned their shakos.

[@Bonifazius743]

German Civil Police stopped wearing shakos in the early 1970s when the 11 Fedral States adopted a common green jacket -brown trousers uniform with a green forage cap. This uniform gave way in turn to a standard dark blue uniform with blue forage cap around 2000.

[@Dank-gb6jn]

The humble Pickelhaube, one of the fancier helmets of warfare.

[@richsackett3423]

Which is fancier? Corinthian helmet or pickelhaube?

[@Dank-gb6jn]

@@richsackett3423 if I’m focusing on ancient warfare, then the Corinthian, though I’m partial to the Centurion helmet myself. If I’m looking at 19th century warfare (as this video is), then the Pickelhaube would be my choice.

[@PhredLG]

The helmet was used in the closing credits of Hogan's Heros, toped by Hogan's cap.

[@jg374]

Another appearance in film and tv is the balloon duel in Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines with rather hilarious results.

[@vidsbychazzle2056]

Simon is a true professional in his field and an internet God.

[@deboralee1623]

me, thinking to myself, as Simon mentions a kangaroo pouch: joey. Simon, continuing his sentence: your, um, little Joey.

[@saalkz.a.9715]

I guess it gives the saying "your head is your best weapon..." and "spearheading your enemy is the best way to win the battle..." 😂

[@raymondromanos1479]

Oh Simon! Love your videos. But please tell your writers to include pronunciation guides into your scripts dealing with German terms. The final 'e' is always pronounced. Not as an 'ee' but as an 'ah'. Looking forward to seeing more content!

[@Veroweithofer]

Yes and the Plural of Pickelhaube is Pickelhauben, not Pickelhaubes 🧐😜

[@dhgm531]

Actually it's just pronounced as schwa (Ə), not that much like an "ah". No diphtongization..

[@deadman746]

_Pickelhaube_ is one of my favorite words. It's right up there with _Moosmeyer,_ which of course in English is _gongfarmer._

[@Its_Yippieskippy]

Really digging your new plant!

[@Ligma-Balls-69]

#420

[@dwightstone7483]

A pouch " for me little Joey"...I likes the concept ! Brilliant!

[@jimparr01Utube]

@12:56 "...to obtain a change of trousers..." Very funny but no doubt true. Loved that comment.

[@tatert3337]

A sponsor ad for underwear on a video about helmets....fitting!😄 (get it? the underwear fits your helmet! XD)

[@brandonmartinez6853]

Just found this channel recently. Really enjoy the content and now I've subscribed. Plead keep it up.

[@letthetunesflow]

Hah! Not going to lie, I laughed out loud at the absurd and weirdly suggestive way Simon said “Bobbies”… “Look at that pair of Bobbies! Nice to see them outside and gracing the community with their presence, even in this cold weather! They are standing quite stiff and erect though, and have quite the rosy complexion. They really should wobble about a bit and get the blood flowing! Maybe if they were to rub their hands on themselves to try and stay comfortable it would help! I know it’s helping my blood flow to follow my own recommendations!” ~ Sincerely a childish twerp…

[@josephw.1463]

I heard that the high incidence of head wounds was also the reason for the short military haircut being adopted, as it made those wounds easier to treat.

[@rookmaster7502]

I thought the short military haircut was introduced to primarily reduce and more effectively treat head lice among the enlisted.

[@josephw.1463]

@@rookmaster7502 Could be. Or could be both.

[@mauricetremblay1324]

Very interesting. Thanks for that exposé.

[@kolonarulez5222]

I feel like I'd be the only one feeling like a badass with a huge metal spike on my head. I both can and can't believe they were mocked lol

[@Joe_C.]

If Dr Seuss scripted a mini-documentary on German helmets ⬆️

[@ruperthitchcox4657]

The other reason they removed the spike, was that in hand to hand combat. The enemy would grab the spike and break the neck of the wearer.

[@whitecockk2]

Thats the same reason that viking helmets never had horns like you see in art

[@sejembalm]

8:38 I saw an ersatz (replacement) Pickelhaube made from pressed rabbit fur felt. Really old (WW1?), but still in really good shape. You'd think that felt would disintegrate over a hundred+ years...

[@Gsoda35]

that is a chimney hat for cold weather. on a cold day you can see the black smoke exiting and a happy warm man smiling.

[@eekee6034]

That was the best delivery of a brown trouser syndrome joke that I've heard in _years!_ Maybe the best ever! XD

[@deboralee1623]

i just got to it (22 June, post-10pm, Los Angeles time)

[@LyonThroy-RSA]

Thanks for the heads-up on stealth cobbler rearrangement. Duly noted

[@alp5088]

Bravo to Simon and the writers. Your closing statements on all channels are consistently home runs!

[@Name-ps9fx]

There's a video on YT about the Chilean guards, marching and horse riding in a parade. Magnificent!

[@Itsfineweerallfine]

My dad got one of the ww1 german helms from the old GI Joes, back when that store was an army surplus store, when he was a kid. It not sits, dusty and covered in soot. I find this fitting somehow…

[@rogersledz6793]

Thank you so much for uploading this video. It is helping me get through the pandemic!

[@Olfan]

The 'e' at the end of the word Pickelhaube is not mute, it's important to pronounce. Without the video footage people familiar with the object will be unable to discern what item you are talking about. It sounds like "halb" (half) and not at all like "haube" (hat), thus producing a completely different word which doesn't exist, especially not in this context.

[@almerindaromeira8352]

He also says halm instead of helm etc.

[@losgespielt2002]

... not to talk about the "Uubersuuk" (Überzug)...

[@JohnWilliamNowak]

The spikes were added during the German invasion of Australia to defend against drop bears. A little-known chapter in World War I, but that's why the only World War I German tank to survive is in Australia.

[@justinsullivan5063]

Strangely, this is one of your more fascinating subjects. Riveting presentation.

[@Ferret1900]

In the UK there used to be a non PC but much loved sitcom about the Nazi occupation of Belgium - 'Allo 'Allo. Not a natural subject for comedy you might think and I'm sure it wouldn't be made today. It was often very funny. In one scene where a German general wearing a pickelhaube is addressing his subordinates in a cafe the waitress trips and the roast chicken she was carrying ends up on his helmet spike. One of the officers whispers to his neighbour 'How do you tell a general that he has a chicken on his head?' 'I'm not sure, I was absent from staff college on the day that was covered.' Perhaps you had to see it!

[@timshulepov]

Please do an episode about the outfit of Greek presidential guard (and the way they walk during the shift changes, for the fans of Monty Python's "Ministry of Silly Walks").

[@erinmac4750]

I don't think these are the only ones. I've seen clips of guards in India and Pakistan doing similar steps.

[@timshulepov]

@@erinmac4750 that's true, but those guards' shoes aren't as fluffy as those of Greek guards. To me, that counts :D

[@jacobhuff3748]

1919 Victory way celebration at grand central had an entire pyramid of these numbering 12,000. Honestly at the end of the 19th century this was silly design that should have been abandoned. PS My grandfather in the pacific theater had a rifle caliber penetrate his helmet and follow the the contour and come out the other side, Unnerving experience.

[@scottplumer3668]

At the start of WWI, there were a lot of silly designs that should have been abandoned. For example, French uniforms were blue jackets with red (!) pants. They looked smashing, but they weren't really suited for a modern battlefield. They then went to sky blue and eventually to a greenish brown. The Brits and Germans, meanwhile, had the colors right all along.

[@SSHitMan]

Wow your grandfather was lucky! Not many soldiers had a through-and-through bullet hole in their helmet and lived to tell the tale!

[@dr.scientist3481]

Sheath underwear: for when you’re so insecure you need inanimate objects to cradle you bits.

[@Insanabiliter_In_Linea]

I enjoyed the video, but I just wanted to say that the image you showed when describing the M16 Stahlhelm is actually an M35 Stahlhelm, the helmet used at the very start of WW2. The M35's ventilation holes don't protrude outwards like the M16's and it's a shorter helmet, not covering as much of the ears and neck as the M16's long skirting had a tendency to limit the wearer's hearing. The M35 also had two rivets on the front that other models don't have.

[@wilfdarr]

"Designed by King Wilhelm" Imagine Trump or Biden or Boris is like "I have this great idea for a helmet..."

[@zandercruz3487]

American soldiers at Fort Mackinac in Michigan wore a version of it as well in the late 1800s.

[@edstenson7764]

Excellent video, thank you!

[@justinakers3196]

So when you say to deflect sword blows, does that mean a sword blow coming down Vertically at an angle towards the top of the helmet, or coming Horizontally? I'm just trying to envision in which case it would glance off the helmet and be that useful

[@howlinhobbit]

yes. a sword blow coming in horizontally would likely snag on such a spike. if it didn’t snap the neck of the wearer it would certainly break their concentration (and balance) sufficiently to make the next sword blow harder to block. the same thing is true for the ridiculous horned helmets popular in illustrations of Vikings.

[@jamalwilburn228]

The Spike was purely decorarational. The whole sword blow idea is a myth from people who think everything must have an important purpose

[@herzkine]

In military everything HAS an Initial purpose.

[@willinwoods]

My balls blushed severely at being called "wonderful!" Thank you, Simon!

[@JohnOrbit]

“Simon Whistler Reads His Cereal Box” is the next Simon Whistler KZbin channel that I will undoubtedly watch. 😜

[@donaldwert7137]

"gentlemanly warfare" One of the most ironic oxymorons in history.

[@joemurray8902]

Thanks! I always wanted to find out why they had spikes. Nice beard btw!

[@PsychoMuffinSDM]

Damn you Simon and your thumbnails of topics I never felt I wanted to know until you posted a video!

[@Callsign-Blade_RunnerSG]

They wanted power so badly that they literally turned themselves into Walking Lightning Rods. 😆

[@wealthyblackman2655]

The brim helmet is the best design because it deflects the rain.

[@Nipplator99999999999]

If you know someone that owns a WWI original, don't put a pickle on the spike when you drink responsibly all night, they possibly won't find it as funny as you.

[@jacobwatts202]

i remember as a kid my dad jokingly " ah those were paratrooper catchers" XD

[@howlinhobbit]

boiling leather results in soggy leather. boiling leather in beeswax results in surprisingly strong armor. (c.f. medieval scale armor.) in either case a form to press them in (while still soft from the boiling) is required if you want to do something like a helmet with them.

[@AnyoneCanSee]

This was absolutely fascinating. Especially that they inspired the British Bobby's helmets. I just assumed they were designed to make cops look even taller and a little more militaristic to inspire more respect from the public. They wear silly little baseball-type caps now as I noticed yesterday at the Edinburgh Festival. Normally I never see cops on the street but they are out in force due to the massive crowds.

[@naly202]

The German influence in Romanian jandarmerie helmets is due to the fact that we had German kings during the late 1800s early 1900s

[@midshipman8654]

are there any images or resources about the french skull cap worn under the hat? you usually just see them pictured by themselves without a cap, but I kind of want to see how it fit under a hat. I know something similar war used in 17th century warfar,me, a light helmet worn under fashionable hats called a secrete.

[@jimtaylor4302]

I understand that when one charged across the battlefield towards the enemy, you kept bent over so that you were less of a target, and the enemy would encounter your bayonet and then the spike on your helmet. In 'hand to hand' combat it was common to put your head down and run straight at your opponent. A good hit in the belly with a spiked helmet and the fight would be over.

[@jimtaylor4302]

Think about how dangerous football players with spiked helmets would be

[@tonyclough9844]

The idea of a steel helmet came when currissars who wore a steel helmet, were found not to suffer from head wounds that ordinary soldiers did.

[@Diesel257]

"We need 1000 more troops!" "We have the men but their helmets won't be done until next week"

[@timm1139]

“… proceed to the local quarter master to receive a charge of trousers.” Lol! Who writes this stuff? They deserve a raise!

[@robertforsythe3280]

Reminds me of fancy birds, like Peacocks and other dancing male birds used in mating rituals.