German helmets on Frontoviks

[crazydima]

Tovarischi,

During one of my surfing sessions seeking out images of GPW Frontoviks on foreign websites I ran across a series of photos that are really neat and may offer some answers to some questions.

How often do you see Frontoviks wearing German helmets during official Soviet military activities?

waralbum.ru/7934/

The photos were taken in May of 1945 in Austria.

They are of various member units the 49th Guards Rifle Division while in the process of a Divisional parade to celebrate the Victory over the Germans.

According to veterans who were present there was a shortage of Soviet helmets to be worn for the ceremony. So it was decided to utilize captured German helmets to make up for the shortfall in number of helmets.

Solid red stars were painted on both the Soviet model and German model helmets for the parade.


Sincerely,

Dima
9th Airborne Brigade
VDV

[horsesoldier176]

This was a victory parade, and it was a VERY rare thing. It was also not done in combat, for obvious reasons.

Boridin

[crazydima]

Apr 4, 2011 12:59:38 GMT -5 horsesoldier176 said:

This was a victory parade, and it was a VERY rare thing. It was also not done in combat, for obvious reasons.

Boridin

Tovarisch,

Precisely!

That is exactly why I posted the information and in my original post it is identified as a victory parade. So not much worry of getting fired upon by friendly forces. LOL!

It is such a rare thing and so I thought it was worthy of posting it.

The only documentation I have of Soviet use of German clothing / helmets is for scout and or sabotage operations in the rear of German lines.

Again.....how often do you ever see a Frontovik wearing a Fascist helmet of that period?

Especially considering how much they despised the Hitlerites.

Additionally, it brings to light a logistical detail of a lack of Soviet helmets being present in the 49th Guards at the end of the war.

Thus another detail to take note of as a result of the photos.

Sincerely,

Dima
9th Airborne Brigade