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Miniatures Adventure => Age of the Big Battalions => Topic started by: FramFramson on December 28, 2013, 08:16:50 PM

Title: Non-German users of the Pickelhaube?
Post by: FramFramson on December 28, 2013, 08:16:50 PM

I've seen reference that the militaries of several other countries besides Germany had some use of the pickelhaube, but I can't seem to find any real information on other users besides the fact that the Imperial Russians used it in the past and that in modern times the Swedish life guards and some South American ceremonial units use it.

Does anyone know a little more? Was it perhaps used in other Scandinavian countries?

I'm specifically looking for later use, pre-WWI or even interwar. Ceremonial-only is just fine.

Title: Re: Non-German users of the Pickelhaube?
Post by: von Lucky on December 28, 2013, 08:54:48 PM

Check the references here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickelhaube

Gives a good place to start hunting (was also an interesting read).

Title: Re: Non-German users of the Pickelhaube?
Post by: Adam on December 28, 2013, 08:56:58 PM

The wikipedia article mentions Colombia, chile, mexico, portugal, norway and sweden. It might be worth having a look here or elsewhere at those countries:

 http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgtitle_tree.cfm?level=1&title_id=269277

Title: Re: Non-German users of the Pickelhaube?
Post by: former user on December 28, 2013, 09:42:36 PM

there were even US ones...
http://www.pickelhauben.net/articles/AmericanPickelhaube.htm

and there is a forum too
http://www.pickelhaubes.com/bb/

Title: Re: Non-German users of the Pickelhaube?
Post by: carlos marighela on December 28, 2013, 10:05:35 PM

Pretty much everyone in South America used them at one time, although to a limited degree and limited time frame in Brazil, where French influence was much more pronounced. Chile has a very Prussian military heritage, started by Prussian instructors, they still have M 35 pattern coal scuttle helmets for parade wear. Oddly enough for a country largely composed of Italians, the same fetish for German millinery exists. Then again, they killed 30,000 of their own people in the '70s so not just a Teutonic fashion sense prevails.

I saw pickelhaubes in use by the Colombian Presidential Guard battalion outside the Presidential Palace in Bogota. I'll see if I can post a photo. Very Prussian looking.

Title: Re: Non-German users of the Pickelhaube?
Post by: Patrice on December 28, 2013, 10:25:23 PM

It seems every country had some pickelhaube...

Military fashion always follows the winners, for some time.

...Everyone, but the French (unless proven wrong) it looked too German for us. :D

Title: Re: Non-German users of the Pickelhaube?
Post by: FramFramson on December 28, 2013, 10:36:54 PM

Haha, I actually read the wiki article, and saw the "current users" section, but missed that line about late 19th century adoption.  o_o

That's okay though, because I learned a few extra things too. Thanks guys!

Title: Re: Non-German users of the Pickelhaube?
Post by: carlos marighela on December 28, 2013, 11:11:57 PM

This is a good site to peruse, the author is apparently a pickelhaube obsessive.

http://www.pickelhauben.net