Finnish used helmets after WWII

German helmet m/35-55, "Infanteriestahlhelme Deutsches Model"
  • 50000 helmets in Finnish use, 1955 - 1970's
  • Shape, sizing and steel composition as in German m/35-40.
  • Colour field-grey.
  • Only shells were bought from Germany, helmets were furnished in Finland.
  • Liner had first three leather padding cushions, later a leather hood fixed to a fiber ring.
  • Finnish army started post-war helmet acquisitions in 1955.
  • German model had a priority, as 90% of helmets in use were German/Hungarian models.
  • Finnish industry had no interest in producing helmets and the most economical foreign quote came from West-German factory Hans Römer, which offered wartime model "Infanteriestahlhelme Deutsches Model".
  • Finnish army made an order of 50000 helmets.
  • These helmets stayed in service as long as army had any German models in use. Most are still stored.

    Swedish model purchased in 1962

  • 70000 helmets in Finnish use, 1962 - about 1990's
  • Model is in principal similar to Swedish m/37 helmets purchased in 1941.
  • Colour is matt green.
  • Finland had intention to start her own production of German type helmets in 1959.
  • As domestic production was delayed army decided to order from Eskilstuna Stålpressnings Ab, Pressbolaget Eskilstuna 20000 Swedish helmet shells in 1962.
  • Swedish helmet met the new requirements better than German model, and it was also cheaper and lighter.
  • Maximum weight was approximately 970 g.
  • Helmets were made during 1962, at the end of the year Finnish army had received shells for 70000 helmets.
  • Helmets were furnished in Finland with J/53-Schweden -liners, delivered by Schubert-Werk KG in Germany. It is a component liner with plastic rings, paddings of foamed plastic and top-of-the-head bands made of cotton.

    Finnish helmet "m/62"

  • Total amount ?, 1963 - present day
  • "M/62" is almost identical to it's Swedish example.
  • In Finnish m/62 the profile is not as ball-shaped, it is more gently sloping on front and steeper in the back. The difference is difficult to see by eye.
  • Finnish helmets were made in Järvenpää factory of Wärtsilä Oy from steel provided by Swedish company Fagersta Bruk Ab. Steel was presslathed to thickness of 1,1-1,2.
  • Helmet met international standards of protection calibre.
  • The shell was treated with red anticorrosive agent coated matt green at first, matt grey later on.
  • Two types of liners were used. Installation started in 1965 with a domestic type developed by Finnish Defence Staff. This liner was made by Friitalan nahka. From year 1971 onwards German type Schubert-Werk I/608 liners were used.
  • Helmets were made in two sizes: 69, weighting 960 g without liner and 1120 g with liner, and 72, weights being 1000 and 1190 g.
  • Finnish army decided in 1962 to purchase "... to be used along with German type helmets ... a more modern Swedish and also Finnish made steel helmet type".
  • At first Wärtsilä Oy Kone ja Silta offered to produce 30000 helmet shells without liners.
  • Acquisitions started in 1963, "m/62"-helmets were made about 20 years without interruptions.
  • Army had made an own model m/62 for dispatch riders, with two liners within each other. A simple top-of-the-head cotton band liner was attached to the shell, and a civilan-type motorbike helmet leather liner was sewn to this.
  • Helmet models 1915-29
    Helmet models 1930-39
    Helmet models 1940-49
    Helmet models 1950-59
    Helmet models 1960-69
    Helmet models 1970-
    Civil defence and firemen

    Suomalaiskypäriä 1917-41
    Suomalaiskypäriä 1941-45
    Suomalaiskypäriä 1945 jälkeen
    Erikoiskypäriä 1945 jälkeen

    Pottia.net