A question of helmets

[pyrrhicvictory]

To my knowledge the British and Germans both started to use steel helmets in 1916, but does anybody know who started using them first and in which months these helmets started to be used?  Just thought I might ask so as to satisfy my curiosity...

[Plynkes]

The French introduced a steel skullcap to go under the kepi as early as the winter of 14/15. The familiar Adrian helmet was officially adopted in May 1915, and they'd made three million of the things by the end of the year.

The Germans also toyed around with a steel skullcap idea in 1915, theirs had a nasal bar like a Norman helmet, too (!).

[Plynkes]

German steel helmet field tested December 1915, general introduction from April 1916 (took a while for everyone to get one, though).

Similar story for the Brits. Introduced on a trial basis in late 1915, general issue mid-1916 (sorry, don't have an exact date for that one).

[pyrrhicvictory]

nasal bar like a Norman helmet, too (!).

Interesting design...

You wouldn't happen to know were I might be able to find a photograph of one of these would you?

[Plynkes]

Yes, right here! 





Here's an artist's impression too:

[Siaba]

German steel helmets were issued for the Verdun offensive (april 1916) . The first assault waves wore them, while following troops still wore the pickelhaube.

[Johnnytodd]

The topic of British adoption of helmets has recently come up on another forum:

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=165015