The Pickelhaubes most recognizable feature was the ornamental front plate and the spike finial. Musicians, Bavarian Artillery, and the Saxon Guards whole cavalry regiment wore a red plume. The detachable plumes were made by unscrewing the spike and replacing this with a trichter (metal plume holder). German generals, dragoon regiments, infantry regiments, the Prussian Guard infantry, and staff officers wore this Pickelhaube. This modification was made in 1844 since the spiked design caused injuries on horses and damages on equipment.īefore World War I in 1914, detachable white or black plumes were worn with the Pickelhaube. The Pickelhaube used by the Prussian artillery units had a ball-shaped finial instead of a spike. The metal binding of its front peak and the metal band that reinforced its rear were removed. In 1867, there were more attempts to make the Pickelhaube lighter. Along with that, producing the helmet reduced the cost. Eventually, the helmet had a more fit form, and its weight also decreased. The early designs of the Pickelhaube featured a high crown, but its height was reduced gradually. The Pickelhaube was easily modified to represent ones rank and affiliation.

On formal occasions, it was outfitted with plumes. This spike was modified depending on the wearers battlefield duties. It functioned as a blade tip for deflecting an opponents sword blows aimed at the head. It was reinforced with a metal trim that was often plated with or silver for officers.Īt the crown, this headgear had a metal spike.

The basic Pickelhaube was made of boiled or hardened leather, which gave it a glossy black finish. Today, militaries in countries like Chile, Colombia, and Sweden wear it during ceremonies. The helmet was an improved version of the conical shako hats that Prussians wore in the Napoleonic Wars. The Pickelhaube, designed by King Frederick William IV of Prussia, was introduced by the Prussian military in 1843. This was one of the medieval German helmets worn by the German and Prussian military, police, and firefighters. The term Pickelhaube, also known as Pickelhelm, refers to a spiked helmet from the 19th and 20th centuries. Its use was retained in the mid-century, but in a greatly reinforced design that’s specific for jousting. It was entirely replaced by the burgonet and closed helm. Gradually, using the sallet on the field decreased in the 16th centurys first two decades. With that, the connection of the bevor shifted to the skulls exterior. When the lengthy tail along the helmets rear was shortened, the later sallets appeared different from close helmets. Initially, these were attached inside the helmet’s skull. The previous generations of German sallets had the bevor connected from the visors same pivot. Photo Source: Public Domain Last German Sallets It was necessary to protect the throat and lower face of the wearer. This piece is extended from the users upper chest just below the users nose. These types of sallets were usually worn with an individual scoop-formed plate gorget. The other versions of these kept the same style, yet the upper face had a different type of protection. It was to conceal the wearers upper face, while its eye-splits were present to provide vision. These types of medieval German helmets sometimes sported a front that extended down. What differentiated them was the length of its tail, which became more evident over time. It was drawn out to a long tail and at times, featured a couple of lames.Ī specific aspect distinguishes the German sallet from the later medieval German helmets and sallets. The German-style sallet had a most prominent feature, It had a round-shaped skull yet was not as curved as the Italian sallet. From 1450 to 1460, a unique German-style sallet appeared.

Medieval helmets behind