The Stahlhelm M 18 mit Ohrenausschnitt (M18 Ear Cut-Out Helmet) presented here represents one of the rarest and most intriguing variants of the German steel helmet from the First World War. This piece not only documents the rapid technical evolution of head protection in the war’s closing months but also illustrates the remarkable continuity of military equipment across several eras of German military history.
Origins and Development of the Stahlhelm
The German Stahlhelm was developed in 1915/16, a period when trench warfare on the Western Front was becoming increasingly prevalent and the need for effective head protection against shrapnel and shell splinters had become urgent. On 12 February 1918, the extensively redesigned Model 1918 (M 18) was introduced, incorporating numerous improvements over the preceding M 16 model.
The steel shell of the M 18 consisted of a single piece of pressed steel approximately 1 mm thick. Ventilation holes on the sides measured 6 mm in diameter with an 8 mm long bolt of 1.4 cm outer diameter. The weight of the helmet with interior fittings ranged from 1180 to 1380 grams, depending on size. The interior featured a three-piece leather liner attached to a metal ring with three padding pockets. A new two-piece chin strap was introduced, attached directly to the helmet liner rather than the shell. The helmets were to be painted with a matte, felt-like finish using wool dust (Wollstaub).
The Ear Cut-Out Variant
The ear cut-out variant – known as the “Helm mit Ohrenausschnitten” – was identical to the standard M 18 except for half-moon curved sections cut adjacent to the location of the wearer’s ears. This modification was developed and tested in August 1918.
The impetus for this development came from complaints from the front about soldiers’ inability to hear properly while wearing the helmet. The purpose of the cutouts was to improve hearing and to reduce the echo created by the large, flared skirt of the helmet. Contrary to popular belief, the cutouts were not designed to accommodate headphones for telegraph and radio operators.
A War Ministry communication of August 1, 1918 proposed the use of the Helm mit Ohrenausschnitten and ordered the production of 100,000 units. Production was carried out exclusively by Eisenhüttenwerk Thale A.G. of Thale am Harz, and all helmets were made in size 64 only. Whether the full order of 100,000 helmets was actually completed remains unknown. Every example therefore bears the stamp “ET 64” on the interior skirt section on the wearer’s left side. Additionally, lot numbers are stamped on the top of the interior portion of the helmet dome.
The M 18 ear cut-out helmet was issued very late in the war – in August 1918, just two months before the Armistice was signed. Very few period photographs exist of soldiers wearing this helmet type, suggesting that distribution was limited. Among collectors today, these helmets are simply known as “cut-out M18s.”
Continued Service in the Reichswehr and Beyond
The Stahlhelm M 18, including the ear cut-out variant, continued in service with the Reichswehr after 1918. The great majority of M 18 ear cut-out helmets were reissued during the Reichswehr or Third Reich period. This was a typical procedure: helmets received new paint, new decals, new liners, chin straps, and rivets. However, finding an M 18 ear cut-out helmet that was reissued in this manner is considered particularly rare.
Although a new helmet model was introduced in 1935, the design quality of the M 18 ensured that it remained in service both in the military and in civilian units such as the police and fire brigade. Within the Wehrmacht, these helmets were used until the end of the Second World War.
One notable attributed example is associated with Oberleutnant Radeke of the Reiter-Regiment 14 / Kavallerie-Regiment 14, which was founded in the spring of 1920, demonstrating the continued use of these helmets in the Reichswehr’s mounted units.
The Present Example
The specimen shown here dates to approximately 1918 and bears the characteristic manufacturer’s stamp “E.T. 64” of the Eisenhüttenwerk Thale A.G. on the interior. The original interior paint survives, while the exterior displays a later Reichswehr-era repaint – a hallmark of the post-WWI reissue process typical for these helmets. The three-piece liner on the metal ring with its three padding pockets is present, with padding material surviving in all three cushions; the front cushion shows an old tear. The helmet retains its Reichswehr-era chin strap with snap closure.
The Stahlhelm M 18 with ear cut-outs is among the most sought-after pieces for collectors of Imperial German militaria. Its limited production run, brief period of First World War service, and the fact that it was manufactured by a single firm in a single size all contribute to making it one of the rarest and most historically significant variants of the German steel helmet.
