The Purpose of the Pickelhaube Helmet
The nation’s Pickelhaube helmet, distinguished by a single spike protruding directly from its top, became an icon of Prussian militarism during the early twentieth century. based on appearance, the prominent spike appears to have served no use; actually, helmets were outlawed on the battlefield during World War I. This raises an issue of what the Pickelhaube’s “converge” was in that initial place?
The Pickelhaube was first proposed for use by cavalry soldiers by the Prussian military forces in 1843. The compressed leather helmets were developed as an improvement on the conical shako caps used by Prussians during the Napoleonic Wars. Napoleonic-era shakos provided virtually no head protection and were difficult to wear in damp weather since they quickly absorbed moisture. As a result, the Pickelhaube was welcomed as a practical modern invention. The new “leather helmets” or “helmets with spikes” gave soldiers additional head protection and visibility. The helmets were not easily removed.
The Pickelhaube’s characteristic spike was designed to function as a blade tip. It was designed to block sword attacks to the head. The spikes might be adjusted based on the troops’ battleground responsibilities, and they could be adorned with plumes on official occasions. The helmets could be easily customized to display rank and affiliation symbols.
The helmet became popular throughout Germany, and it was also adopted by local law enforcement and fire departments. Nonetheless, the helmet was treated with scorn and mockery–even in Germany. The unicorn-style helmet was widely recognized as one-of-a-kind and superficial. In his satirical poem “Germany: A Winter’s Tale,” published in 1843, the famed author Heinrich Heine compared the Pickelhaube to a lightning rod:
” Yes, yes, I like the helmet, it shows the loftiest wit!
A kingly inspiration, it was! Equipped with a point and tip!
I’m merely concerned that a storm will undoubtedly arrive and that I will be too easily struck.
Your lovely crown with an elegant lightning strike!”
The Pickelhaube became a symbol of Prussian machismo and combat prowess. In 1871, an imperial decree made the Pickelhaube mandatory for all German soldiers. Prussian military chiefs boastful and scowling with bristling mustaches posed for marketing images showing off the Pickelhaube, including Kaiser Wilhelm II, Otto von Bismarck, and Paul von Hindenburg. Horned helmets were associated with barbarism in other countries, particularly during World War I.
Pickelhaube, despite his ostensibly “modern” appearance, performed poorly in battle. Although it could have been useful for evading swords, the helmet was not up to the task of withstanding modern gunfire. Instances from the Bavarian Army Museum in Ingolstadt show that the helmet was almost worthless against bullets, even more so than shell pieces. It was also difficult for regular soldiers to put on. According to the museum, some regional South German troops defied the 1871 imperial edict mandating the Pickelhaube, preferring even more comfortable cloth headgear. Gleaming helmet spikes also posed ideal targets for snipers, prompting various changes to the helmet’s camouflage, including detachable spikes.
In warfare, the Pickelhaube might also prove dangerous to its user. In a 1924 German surgical book, a soldier using a Pickelhaube suffered a terrible injury when his helmet spike became lodged in the ground as he fell; the trauma caused a perforated spleen.
Following more than 70 years of service by German military troops, Prussian military officials were obliged to relinquish the Pickelhaube during World War I. Demands for bulletproof and shrapnel-resistant helmets began in 1914, leading to the development of the Stahlhelm, a significantly more useful design that first appeared on the frontlines in 1916 and remained widely used by 1917.
Originally published on Historynet.com. Read the original article
