"Russians in German helmets (WW1/RCW)" Topic

I am painting up some WW1 Russians for a friend. He informed me that the German looking chaps were actually Russian. I suspect these are probably Russian Civil war (not my field)?

Anyway, does anyone know/care what colour these helmets would be. At the moment they are the same colour as their uniforms (ie Khaki).

Richard

When I was in Latvia in '93 there were some in the Latvian War Museum, as well as a painting of them being worn by Nationalists at the battle of Riga against the Bolshevics.
Have the impression they were field grey, but am not able to say with a degree of certainty.

Cheers – field grey contrasts nicely

You mean grman nationalists ( freikorps etc.) ?

According to Osprey, some RCW Whites wore German uniforms and helmets. I have no idea how many actually did this.

I don't see WWI Russians wearing German helmets while they are at war with Germany. It sounds like a very good way to get shot in the head by one of your own guys.

If I had to guess, I would say the Adrian was the foreign helmet present in the greatest numbers and was used in both WWI and the RCW.

Br. Richard,
Please give more info, you are rather vague.
The russian fatigue cap which looks like the prussian field cap (kaetzchen) exists in: Green with red, blue, white or yellow piping,In white with piping or in white and dyed in tea / coffee or mud. Or in all shades of Off-green. It is used from the Napolionic wars, on the Crimian up untill Lenin.

So please MORE details please.

Or are you talking about the Russian Firefighter helmet which was used in Finnland and in 41 ???

Greetings

Ps: or just sent a photo

I have found the figures – they are Peter Pig

peterpig.co.uk/range16.htm

Number 77 – Russian infantry in German helmets

There is a picture of the very figures

Ta Rich

Thee are uniform books for the RCW, in Russian that should White Russians in German helmets.

Not sure of the colour, sorry

Could not find any document that the M16 was sold or delivered to any white or red russians or poles.

So they must be captured and therefore mimiki camo…. Or feldgrau.

Greetings

Very stange figures indeed.

I painted mine grey. Used the Peter Pig figures mostly for Polish and Russian Civil War both sides. I am sure late WWI some German helmets could have been used instead of the cap.

It's not hard to find pictures of Latvian and Estonian nationalists in German helmets. The only one I could find in colour was a green Latvian one.

Given that the Germans had recently fled the area in a massive hurry, the surprise would be if there weren't loads lying around.

The Poles used them in huge numbers, but I would guess mostly with German uniforms (being Poznanian and Pomeranian units).

I used that pack for my RCW Nationalists, and also with the head-swap packs for Whites in cap or fur hat because I like mixed poses.

Not sure it has any WWI uses though.

Those figures are the "Liven" Div – North West Army 1919. They were Russian P.O.W.'s of the Germans…mostly Guardsmen. Some of THE BEST troops in Yudenich's Army for the drive on Petrograd. Helmets were Felgrau with the Tsarist Russian Eagle Emblem on the front (which would be impossible to paint in 15mm). Tri-colour chevron and cross on the left sleeve of the Felgrau coat (matching trousers) as in the rest of the North-West Army. German equipment and rifles. There is a good illustration of one of these soldiers in the White Army Osprey if you have that book.

SDallimore is absolutely right!