Kriegsmarine Tropical Pith Helmet Eagle

With the impending entrance into the north African campaign in late 1940 the Kriegsmarine developed new tropical brown uniform independently from the Heer and Luftwaffe. The Kriegsmarine was the first branch of service to utilize a pith helmet and its development can be traced back as far as 1856 when the first pattern was introduced into the Prussian Navy. The Kriegsmarine pith helmet underwent numerous design alterations from its inception until a final pattern was decided on September 2nd 1940. Originally Officer ranks were distinguished by dual gilt braid tress but that was replaced with a short lived, large national eagle worn of the front center of the helmet. The large national eagle was soon replaced with two smaller shields with a national tri-color shield to be attached to the right side of the helmet and a national eagle shield to be attached to the left side of the helmet.

Clearly detailed, large gilt washed, die stamped non ferrous alloy construction. The eagle’s wingspan is roughly, 11cm wide and the bottom edges of the wings have sharply scalloped tips. The reverse of the eagle is a mirror image of the obverse and both of the heavy attachment prongs are still intact. In very good condition with minor signs of age and use.

Scarce, short lived pith helmet eagle in overall very good condition!!