Swiss Steel: Switzerland’s military helmets

Despite its adherence to neutrality — or, more accurately, to ensure it can remain neutral — Switzerland has maintained a standing army. It has been reasonably well armed and well equipped.

When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Bern mobilized its army, fearing it could be dragged into the conflict. It wasn’t known at the time, but the Schlieffen Plan, which called for German forces to outflank French fortifications on the frontier by marching through Belgium, also had an alternative route through Switzerland. The Alpine country’s mountainous topography and standing army likely contributed to Germany’s decision to take a northern route. The disorganized state of the Belgian Armed Forces further made it the better option in 1914.

Bern avoided war, but the Swiss people were somewhat divided throughout the conflict. The German-speaking majority favored the Central Powers and had ties to Germany and Austria, while the French-speaking and later Italian-speaking populations supported the Entente powers. That caused some internal conflict in 1918, but it may have a longer-lasting impact on the helmet that the Swiss military would wear from 1918 until 1971! 

One with a more German influence clearly won out.

Author and helmet collector Frédéric Pellaton explained in “Les Casque de Combat du monde entier: 1915 à nos jours” (Combat Helmets of the World: 1915 to the Present) (Dépot Légal Maris, 1984) that from 1904 to 1914, the Swiss military conducted experimental trials of a new helmet as part of a new field uniform:

“In 1904, the Federal Military Department ordered testing on a pith helmet with neck coverage, but it was abandoned because it provided insufficient protection. In 1905, further tests were carried out on two helmets – one made of cork with a metal crest and the other with a non-metallic crest. These helmets were covered with the same fabric as was used on army uniforms.”

The helmets were further adorned with the federal cross and with national and regimental cockades on each side. According to the description, the helmets featured elements of the German pickelhaube (spiked helmets) and Greco-Roman-style cavalry helmets worn by the French Army’s cavalry units. The French Army was also experimenting with similar helmets during that period, but it is unlikely that details were shared between Paris and Bern.

As with the French helmets, however, the program was ended as it was found that the headgear didn’t provide adequate protection to the wearer. Even as late as 1913, the thought of a major conflict in Europe seemed unlikely, so efforts to develop a modern uniform weren’t a priority for the Swiss military. Without foresight of the horrors of trench warfare, the need for protective headgear was likely an afterthought at best.

It was only as the French, British, and German militaries, respectively, introduced steel combat helmets that the Swiss military again considered developing one for its forces.

As was the case in other neutral nations such as the Netherlands and Sweden, progress was slow going. That may be the reason why some of the helmets developed in those nations may seem superior to the British and French designs. There was lack of need to produce them quickly for troops on the front lines. Fewer helmets were required, and without men literally dying by the thousands, there was no urgency.

According to Pellaton, a “Colonel de Loys, commander of the 2nd Division,” commissioned the painter/sculptor Charles l’Eplanttenier from La Chaux-de-Fonds to aid in the design. This initial helmet design was carefully refined and presented to the Swiss Federal government in early 1917. However, there were manufacturing issues, and the design was rejected in favor of another by Colonel Imoboden, which was derived from the German Model 1916 steel helmet.

Helmet collector Paolo Marzetti further noted in his book “Combat Helmets of the World” (Ermanno Albertelli Editore, 1996) that Dr. Edward A. Gessler, director of the Swiss National Museum, and Paul Boesch, a sculptor who served on the Swiss General Staff, also contributed to the development of a steel helmet.

The final helmet (the Gessler/Boesh mode), which Pellaton described as “very well-designed,” was introduced in 1918 as the “Ordonnanz 1918.” About 75,000 were produced, with about 50,000 in size A and 25,000 in size B (large). All were painted matte green.

Collectors have described the helmet as the “Swiss World War I Helmet,” but in fact, production continued until 1939. According to Marzetti, a version resembling the German M18 “cutout” helmet was introduced circa 1930 and purportedly used by air defense units, but few specifics are known, including how many were produced. It should be considered a rare variation.

Amongst collectors today, there is an often-repeated belief that the Swiss Model 1918 was an indirect copy of the American Model 5. In fact, many collectors have even confused the much more common Swiss M18 with the scarce Model 5.

The Swiss helmet was developed indigenously and likely without any knowledge of the Model 5. While Bern was likely able to obtain French Model 1915 “Adrian” helmets, British Mk I helmets, and even German M16 helmets, there is no reason to suggest any of the Swiss designers even knew of the Model 5.

It is worth noting that the rumor’s possible origin is in Dr. Bashford Dean’s book “Helmets and Body Armor in Modern Warfare”, which highlighted the similarities between the two helmets. However, the same source should also have dispelled these myths.

Dean wrote, “It (the Swiss Model 1918) resembles our helmet so closely that it could be readily mistaken for it – yet there is no doubt whatever that the two models were designed independently on either side of the ocean. American mode No. 5, it will be observed, has its side produced farther forward as a protection to the orbit.”

Thus, the evidence is clear, especially as Dean was one of the Model 5’s original designers.

An odd coincidence is that Dean was curator of the Arms & Armor gallery at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, whereas Gessler and Boesh had ties to the Swiss National Museum. This serves as a reminder that designers looked to what worked in the past.

It should be further noted that, despite its appearance and similarity to the German Model 1916, the Swiss helmet was influenced only by the German Model 1916, and the Germans never provided any input. There were notable similarities and differences with the German design. The Swiss helmet used a liner with three pads like the German model, but the Model 1918’s liner wasn’t attached to the shell with rivets. Likewise, the Swiss helmet lacked ventilation lugs that allowed for the wearing of a Stirnpanzer, the brow plate meant to provide extra protection for snipers and machine gun crews. Instead, a pair of ventilation holes were placed towards the rear of the Swiss helmet.

The Model 1918 remained in use throughout the interwar period, and it was only during the Second World War in 1940 that it was refined, with a slightly shallower skirt. This version is known as the Model 18/40, though that may be a collector term rather than an official designation.

In 1943, most existing M18s and M18/40s were repainted matte black, with sawdust added to provide a textured finish. There seems to be little reason this occurred, other than possibly reducing glare from the helmet, but it was soon after that helmet covers were introduced. In addition, the liner was simplified, with the inside band only going three-quarters of the way around, reportedly as a cost-saving measure.

The M18/43 remained in service until 1971, when it was phased out, replaced by the Model 1971. That model has sometimes been erroneously described as a “paratrooper” helmet because of its three-point chinstrap.  However, the shell would be truly impractical for airborne troops, as it features a near hemispherical shape with prominent flares on both sides.

In actuality, the Model 1948/62 helmets were introduced for airborne and other roles. Those helmets initially employed 15,000 British dispatch rider shells produced during World War II, which were fitted with a new liner system. That liner could be employed with a neck curtain, allowing it to be used by motorcyclists, tankers, and paratroopers.

The Swiss Model 1918 was never exported throughout Europe, perhaps due to Bern’s efforts to maintain its neutrality. However, one nation that did buy a large number of the Swiss helmets was Argentina, where it was locally designated the Model 1938.

It was the first modern, widely used combat helmet adopted by the South American nation, and it was reportedly chosen as Argentina also sought to maintain neutrality during a period of geopolitical tension. At the same time, there was still pro-German sentiment, and the M38 may have been sufficiently similar to the German M35 steel helmet to appease those sentiments. It did help give the Argentine Army the appearance of being a modern “European-inspired” fighting force. Argentina’s helmets are noted for their large national cockade stencil on the right side.

The M38 helmets, which were used by the Argentine Army throughout the Second World War, remained in use with the Gendarmería Nacional until the late 1970s. 

{Thanks to Tom Buck for supplying additional insight on the Swiss helmets, as well as photos from his collection.}