"Pickelhaube helmets in 1918?" Topic

I am reading the Osprey on Kaiserschlacht, 1918 and it shows two photos of British soldiers captured during the offensive. In both photos, the British are guarded by German soldiers wearing the covered early war helmet. My question is: Was the early war helmet commonly worn behind the front lines in 1918? It certainly looks lighter and more comfortable than the trench helmet. Would it have ever been worn in the front lines at this time?

I think reserve and rear echelon units wore them throughout the war. OG use to sell 28mm Reserve German infantry wearing Pickelhaube helmets.

Maybe the photo was mis-captioned…

Yes, more likely to be a photo of British prisoners captured during the Battle of the Somme.

Robert

Reserve/rear echelon troops typically are not as well equipped as frontline troops. THe picture may be accurately labeled

Reserve/rear echelon troops typically are not as well equipped as frontline troops.

And are thus far more likely to be wearing the cheap Feldmutze than the expensive Pickelhaube.

I was lucky enough to know several German Army veterans of WWI. The Picklehaub was the regulation cover of the German Army up to the end of the war. They were still being made in 1918. The Stahlhelm was only a combat piece of equipment and thus worn only in the combat area. The Stahlhelm was not considered part of the uniform. If you look at photos of German POWs the majority of them are wearing their mutz having removed the helmet to surrender.

rmaker, by the end of the war, the Pickelhaubes were being made from pressed felt, so not so expensive as the leather versions.

By 1918 the Pickelhaubes were being made of various materials, leather, felt, fiber, steel.
This is a fiber one dated 1918,