13 British Steel Helmet Mk. II found in Sokolovo Battlefield

Fotogalerie

Members of the 1st Czechoslovak Independent Battalion in the USSR first fought at the Ukrainian village of Sokolovo on 8 March 1943. At that time they were using British uniforms and equipment left in Buzuluk by the Polish Anders’ Army. The typical British appearance of the Czechoslovak soldiers was completed with the typical Mk II steel helmet, of which several hundred were in the arsenal. During winter, the helmets were painted white for camouflage.

However, the armament (the helmet, together with the field shovel and gas mask) of the Czechoslovak soldiers were not used too long and already in mid-1943, they were replaced by modern Soviet Ssh-40 helmets. However, these helmets can still be found during the period of fighting in the Carpathian-Dukla Pass Offensive Operation.

The displayed specimen was found directly in Sokolov. The bell of the helmet bears remnants of white paint; the interior and the bib have not been preserved. In the 1970s, it was brought by a film crew that was shooting a high-budget film by director Otakar Vavra, Sokolovo. The helmet was subsequently granted to the collections of the Military Historical Institute.