# Did those pointy German helmets in WWI have any practical value? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 5, 2016, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208 "2016-02-05T05:15:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/41 "2016-02-12T15:39:46Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > They aren’t always full-sized jackets, such that you could actually wear it in the usual way. Some of them are stylized jacket-like affairs, so that they give the impression of wearing a full-sized jacket over one shoulder. > > It may have started as just an ordinary jacket, but it came to take on a life of its own (in some cases.) Style and fashion are weird! I still would like a cite, please. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/42 "2016-02-12T15:48:23Z")
> [@Trinopus](#): > > They aren’t always full-sized jackets, such that you could actually wear it in the usual way. Some of them are stylized jacket-like affairs, so that they give the impression of wearing a full-sized jacket over one shoulder. > > It may have started as just an ordinary jacket, but it came to take on a life of its own (in some cases.) Style and fashion are weird! [Images](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQXy0LrYaak/VXoG_mmhLhI/AAAAAAAAB-o/VnT85lW2FnQ/s1600/Perrguide.jpg) [Images](http://pre07.deviantart.net/322d/th/pre/f/2012/295/0/5/assorted_cavalry_uniforms_by_tounushi-d5il134.png) [Image](http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/429334/429334,1302895641,2/stock-vector-french-hussar-cavalier-on-a-horse-napoleonic-wars-military-uniform-napoleon-empire-ulm-75323398.jpg) These all seem to be functional jackets that just weren’t worn as such unless it was mid-winter. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/43 "2016-02-12T17:26:08Z")
> [@smithsb](#): > > Here you go. > [gas mask on horses images - Google Search](https://www.google.com/search?q=gas+mask+on+horses+images&rlz=1CATAAC_enUS670US671&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=989&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiOqP7z0uHKAhUHyGMKHRITCjQQsAQIGw) That’s the most steampunky thing I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/44 "2016-02-12T17:46:36Z")
I don’t know - I’ll bet the incidence of helmet damage due to people casually sitting on them without looking went WAY down. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2016, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/45 "2016-02-12T20:34:10Z")
“It was a one in a million shot, Herr Doktor, one in a million!” ---
**Author:** ![Onyerbike](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onyerbike/32/5402_2.png) [@Onyerbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onyerbike)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/46 "2016-02-13T01:49:06Z")
I always presumed them to be (_very_) last ditch weapons - if nothing else a soldier finding himself weaponless, and grappling with an enemy, could remove the helmet and strike his opponent pointy thing facing downwards. That ought to be nasty if it pokes you in the eye, throat, ribs etc. It now occurs me he would be removing the purpose of the helmet entirely - protecting your noggin, to do this. I think I just fought my own ignorance! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/47 "2016-02-13T07:26:23Z")
> [@here\_and\_there](#): > > even the unusual versions had this feature (see: [http://s00.yaplakal.com/pics/pics\_original/5/8/6/7142685.jpg](http://s00.yaplakal.com/pics/pics_original/5/8/6/7142685.jpg)) Bottom left one looks [familiar](http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/857/857910/death-star-weapons-officer-20080307033714664-000.jpg)… ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/48 "2016-02-13T08:41:57Z")
Frankly, I think the pickelhaube would be an excellent defence against dropbear attacks. ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/49 "2016-02-13T16:16:34Z")
Their practical value was foxhole defense. If an opposing soldier attempted to jump into your foxhole, they’d land on one of those helmets. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/50 "2016-02-13T17:13:08Z")
> [@quiltguy](#): > > Always liked those “shoe brush” helmets that Roman soldiers wore, or were they merely invented for the movies? No, they were real. Google “Greek vase soldiers” and you’ll see a lot of contemporary vases decorated with soldiers wearing them. I can’t quickly think of a similar resource for Romans. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/51 "2016-02-13T17:14:19Z")
> [@here\_and\_there](#): > > and we forget (me included :rolleyes: ) that the [French WWI helmet](https://yandex.com/images/search?text=french%20wwi%20helmet) had a comb like part on top Was that an homage to the Romans and Greeks? ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/52 "2016-02-13T20:12:26Z")
> [@GreenElf](#): > > Their practical value was foxhole defense. If an opposing soldier attempted to jump into your foxhole, they’d land on one of those helmets. So, anti-atheist defence, eh? ---
**Author:** ![Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90ced4/32.png) [@Waltzes\_with\_Cacti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waltzes_with_Cacti)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/53 "2016-02-18T20:39:56Z")
For a practical use for a Pickelhaube check this out starting at about 0:30 seconds in: https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xs_JNDLBuhM?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLN4saJzisK0XZxYrgy_z2lOQohc07Rrqf That’s Jim Howick, a wonderful British singer and comic actor, in the helmet and harness. ---
**Author:** ![Ignatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3be4f8/32.png) [@Ignatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ignatz)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2016, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/54 "2016-02-20T00:17:01Z")
Still available, only $129 [http://www.militaryissue.com/WWI-Imperial-German-Pickelhaube-Helmet-with-Spike/productinfo/M600209/](http://www.militaryissue.com/WWI-Imperial-German-Pickelhaube-Helmet-with-Spike/productinfo/M600209/) ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2016, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208/55 "2016-02-23T00:35:14Z")
> [@Bert\_Nobbins](#): > > Not all of these helmets had spikes. Many German artillery units had miniature cannon-balls on a stalk instead of a spike. Precisely so that they wouldn’t stab each other while leaning over to load the guns. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-those-pointy-german-helmets-in-wwi-have-any-practical-value/745208.md?page=2)