WW2 helmet with bullet hole

PaidInFull24 · Dec 27, 2011

Hey guys,
Here is the latest addition to my collection...a WW2 front-seam helmet with an entry-and-exit bullet hole. The story goes that the vet was fighting in the battle of the bulge in December 1944 when he was shot after just 4 days in combat. Amazingly, he somehow survived! I purchased the helmet at a local antique store here in Oklahoma so I know there is no way to verify authenticity, although the helmet came with a copy of a letter written by the soldier's daughter giving the history of the helmet (see last photo). What do you guys think?
Regards,
Nick

Side view:

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Front view:

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Rear view (notice the entry hole in the center of the exit hole):

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Inside helmet:

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Entry hole from the inside:

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Exit hole from the inside:

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Copy of the letter written by the soldier's daughter (soldier's name and hometown omitted as per agreement made by soldier's daughter and original buyer of the helmet):

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PaidInFull24 · Dec 27, 2011

I also wanted to point out that in the copy of the letter, the soldier's daughter recorded that the war ended in Europe in April of 1945. As we know, the war in Europe ended in May of 1945. I don't feel this discounts the credibility of the historical account though, perhaps she simply mis-stated the month.

Rathdown · Dec 27, 2011

Hmm.... and her "fill in the blank" daddy was? Blanking out the name and home town is counter-productive to the stated intent of wanting the seller's father's "war time experiences" to be "carried on". But it does make it virtually impossible to verify the truth (or lack there of) of her statements. Likewise, I am unaware of any instance where 18 year olds were drafted out of High School, although it was possible for an 18 year old, while still in High School, to volunteer for the draft, or to enlist in the armed forces prior to graduation.

I'm also dubious about the bullet hole, which is remarkably pristine-- generally I'd expect to see at least some rust on those areas where the bullet entered and exited the helmet.

I'm not suggesting that the helmet is necessarily faked, just that the documentary evidence seems to raise more questions than it answers.

Story · Dec 27, 2011

In it's defense, the incident sounds reasonable - it's happened before http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/helmet-saves-soldier-shot-in-the-head-1803994.html

Two questions that might make it worth tracking down the original seller - why a typewritten letter with her father's name as a fill-in-the-blank? And less-questionable, why no unit information?

Tomasso · Dec 27, 2011

That's some sketchy provenance.

Cicero · Dec 27, 2011

Buy the helmet, not the story.

PaidInFull24 · Dec 27, 2011

This might be a good time to defend my decision to buy the helmet...

(in order to protect myself from people thinking of me as an un-wise collector). I received a small amount of money as a Christmas gift this year from a family member with specific instructions to buy something out of the ordinary for myself that I would not normally consider buying. I had seen the helmet in this particular antique store before and liked what I saw, though I too questioned the authenticity of the story. However, I recently had a friend return from Belgium who visited some of the battlefields where the Battle of the Bulge was fought and brought back another war relic from that area for my collection. At the end of the day I reasoned that this helmet would make a neat addition to the Battle of the Bulge grouping in my collection. As per the instructions of the gift from my family member, I purchased the helmet (so in essence, it was a gift). I contacted the seller of the helmet today regarding tracking down the original owner and he said he bought the helmet at an estate sale 9 years ago with the story attached to the helmet in the form shown in the photo. Another mystery of WW2 that we may never know the truth of. If nothing more, it is a neat piece to look at and will be enjoyed in my collection. Thanks so much for all the comments! And definitely don't hesitate to post more. I love a good discussion!

green papaya · Dec 31, 2011

I have a feeling it's s real WWII battlefield damaged helmet, the story sounds true, the impact of the German 8mm mauser bullet impacted the shell and also caused the chin strap pieces to break off, it would be nice if the damaged liner was included but may have been discarded because of the blood from his head wound.

he could have been wearing his chin strap under his chin when he was hit and the impact pulled the helmet back snapping the metal bales that held the straps?

the shell appears to be a early WWII fixed bale with original corked OD paint

if it was sent home as a souvineer that could explain why it's not rusted around the bullet hole, they probably stored it indoors in a dry area.

TomS · Jan 3, 2012

At some point in my life I spoke with a WWII vet who told of a similar experience. A bullet entered his helmet, "rode" around the liner, and exited on the opposite side; I suspect it was not a completely unusual event. I believe your helmet is probably authentic. Just my .02
B/R,
TomS

JohnnyDollar · Jan 3, 2012

I can't begin to count the number of helmets I have seen that have a bullet hole in them. There was a local army navy store selling "german" helmets. Each one had a bullet hole through them. I have seen similar with US helmets. Give bubba a stack of helmets, beer and a fire arm and rounds and ya got your self a stack of instant peices of history.

just my .02 cents - which isn't worth a damn.

EDIT: I guess the orrigional owner of the helmet would have had to take a helmet off a casualty to get a new one as normal supply lines were cut after Dec 16th 1944 - including mail. Having been a grunt medic I just can't see humping a busted helmet around so I could mail it back - but I guess it depends on the person. I know my Grandfather sent back a pair of German Tank Binoculars so a helmet might not be so bad.

Eyemo · Jan 3, 2012

Having been a ballistics photographer in a previous life, I'm pretty sure (never 100% just on a couple of pics) that this is real bullet hole damage.

We at the Tin shed Museum have an original USAAF Flak Helmet, with a hole in it...and I'm 99% sure it's shrapnel.

and I totally agree...buy the object and not the story.

BTW.We bought the helmet to help illustrate the horrors of warfare....and it has the desired effect I may add.

MissMittens · Jan 3, 2012

Agreed. Story doesn't hold water but the bullet hole appears genuine. Not that I have the experience of Eyemo here, but I have seen so many helmets, especially German "dig" helmets with bullet holes that I completely agree.

kampkatz · Jan 4, 2012

Note for Eyemo: The helmet came from the 28th Division. Those guys were certainly involved in the midst of it all after D-Day.(refer to the Tin Shed Museum in the Display forum)

Eyemo · Jan 4, 2012

Could find it a good home..lol!!!

botty · Jan 4, 2012

How would the person suffering from the head wound have kept hold of the helmet? The first action of a medic treating the patient would have been to remove the helmet, throw it out of the way and treat the wound. The patient, I imagine, would have had other things to think about than searching out his helmet as he was medivaced out of the line.

Story · Jan 4, 2012

botty said:
How would the person suffering from the head wound have kept hold of the helmet? The first action of a medic treating the patient would have been to remove the helmet, throw it out of the way and treat the wound. The patient, I imagine, would have had other things to think about than searching out his helmet as he was medivaced out of the line.

His buddies may have saved it for him, as in this story.

dhermann1 · Jan 5, 2012

He may still have used it for quite some time before he was able to get a replacement. The remaining 99% of it would have still been effective.
You see a lot of faked stuff on shows like Antiques Roadshow and Pawn Stars. I suspect we'll never know for sure.

Ed K · Jan 17, 2014

Hello, I just came across this site. Wanted to let you know I am a Vietnam Vet and I had an AK47 round enter and exit my helmet in almost the exact same spot. The difference is, mine was left of center in just about the same location. It grazed my scalp and knocked me unconscious. I wasn't able to keep my "pot" but I do have a photo of myself showing the path of the round using a rifle cleaning rod. During the same fire-fight, another man in my squad had a round go thru his pot just above his right ear. (didn't touch him though) Somebody was looking down on us that day for sure.

PaidInFull24 · Jan 17, 2014

Hi Ed,
First off -- Thank you SO MUCH for your service to our country. I really appreciate your service. What a story about you getting a hole in your helmet similar to this one and living to tell about it. God truly was watching out for you. Would it be possible for you to scan the photo and post it on here so that we could see it? I would be really interested to see.

rjb1 · Jan 17, 2014

The question seems to be not whether it's a real bullet hole, it's whether it was put there by a German in 1944.
Not to be too much of a skeptic, but I know some guys who live near Ft. Campbell, KY (Home of the 101st) where Army surplus stuff was common.
They would buy a batch of cheap old helmets, take them out in the back yard, shoot a hole in them, and then sell them to the tourists as Gen-You-Wine Battle of the Bulge relics.
Caveat Emptor

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