The Stahlhelm, or "steel helmet," became one of the most recognizable symbols of the German military during World War II. First introduced in its modern form during World War I, the design was refined and standardized for the Wehrmacht as the M1935 model, later simplified into the M1940 and M1942 variants to speed up wartime production. Characterized by its distinctive "coal scuttle" shape, flared brim, and side ventilation holes, the Stahlhelm offered excellent protection against shrapnel and glancing blows while maintaining a fearsome, aggressive appearance that perfectly matched the image of the German soldier. Painted in various camouflage patterns or left in its factory gray-green finish, it was issued to nearly every branch of the German armed forces, from the Heer and Luftwaffe ground troops to the elite Waffen-SS. Although later in the war some units received cheaper stamped versions with reduced rims due to material shortages, the Stahlhelm remained an enduring icon of German military engineering and battlefield presence throughout the conflict.
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Generalmajor Walter Gorn (1898-1968) was born on 24 September 1898 in Bieganin near Posen in the Kingdom of Prussia and enlisted as a Kriegsfreiwilliger in the West Prussian Grenadier-Regiment „König Wilhelm I.“ Nr. 7 during the First World War, seeing action on the Western Front before serving with machine-gun units and later joining Freikorps formations in the Baltic; after demobilization he entered the Schutzpolizei in 1920, rising through the ranks to Hauptmann by 1934 and transferring into the Wehrmacht in 1935 as commander of a company in the 3. Kradschützen-Bataillon of the 3. Panzer-Division. In the Second World War he served on the staff of the XIX. Armeekorps during the Polish campaign, then as Major took command of the I. Bataillon of Schützen-Regiment 10 (later redesignated Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10) of the 9. Panzer-Division; on 8–20 April 1941 during the invasion of Yugoslavia he led a mixed Abteilung in a bold advance from Gostivar toward Debar in Macedonia, overrunning strong Yugoslav resistance, capturing seven enemy batteries together with nine further batteries, twelve anti-tank guns and large quantities of matériel, liberating some 800 Italian prisoners whom he promptly rearmed and incorporated into his force, thereby establishing contact with Italian troops and earning the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 20 April 1941. Promoted Oberstleutnant and given command of Kradschützen-Bataillon 59, he fought in the fierce defensive battles around Voronezh in the summer of 1942, where his greatly depleted unit of only about fifty-five combat-effective men repeatedly repulsed heavy Soviet assaults, for which he received the Eichenlaub (113th award) on 17 August 1942. Taking over Panzergrenadier-Regiment 10, he distinguished himself in the winter battles of Rzhev, particularly near Sychyovka along the Vazuza and south of Loshki, where his regiment helped free the encircled 129. Infanterie-Division and destroy cut-off Soviet forces, resulting in the award of the Schwerter (30th award) on 8 June 1943 while he was Oberst. Later promoted Generalmajor, he commanded the 561. Grenadier-Division (subsequently Volksgrenadier-Division) in East Prussia and Lithuania against Operation Bagration and the subsequent Soviet offensives, then briefly the 710. Infanterie-Division in Austria before surrendering to American forces at Steyr on 8 May 1945; released from captivity in 1947, he died in Rosenheim on 10 July 1968.
Oberst Karl Faulhaber (1896-1972) was born on 11 January 1896 in Gerolzhofen in Unterfranken and served as a German Army officer through both world wars, earning the Eisernes Kreuz 2. Klasse and 1. Klasse as well as the IV. Klasse des Militärverdienstordens during the First World War before receiving the Ehrenkreuz für Frontkämpfer. In the Second World War he advanced through the ranks of the Heer, serving with units of the 98. Infanterie-Division and rising to Major by 1940, when he was awarded the 1939 Spange zum Eisernen Kreuz 2. Klasse and 1. Klasse; later promotions brought him to Oberstleutnant as Kommandeur of Infanterie-Regiment 282, for which he received the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 12 November 1942 together with the Infanterie-Sturmabzeichen and the Medaille “Winterschlacht im Osten 1941/42”. By late 1943 he had been promoted to Oberst and was Kommandeur of Grenadier-Regiment 282 of the same division, responsible for the coastal sector south of Kertsch on the Crimean peninsula. On the morning of 1 November 1943, under cover of heavy Soviet artillery fire from the Taman peninsula, enemy forces landed near Eltigen; communications failed and the situation remained completely unclear, with the II./Grenadier-Regiment 282 under Hauptmann Dr. Finke cut off and the enemy advancing westward with several hundred men. Oberst Faulhaber immediately drove forward himself, encountered the leaderless and heavily depleted 2./Grenadier-Regiment 282 taking cover under fire south of Kamysch-Burun, and, realizing that further enemy progress would seize critical high ground and open the way to the harbour, decided not to await the divisional reserve. Under intense fire he rallied the company, led it to a safer assembly area north of the road, and personally directed a flank attack that surprised the advancing Soviet troops, drove them back across the road, and secured a series of crests and quarries. When a strong enemy counter-attack developed he moved from position to position, directing individual soldiers and inspiring them by his own example until the key strongpoints were held. This decisive personal intervention halted the enemy breakthrough at the last moment, inflicted heavy losses, freed the threatened 2./Artillerie-Regiment 198, restored contact with the encircled battalion command post, and created the conditions for containing the Eltigen beachhead with limited forces, thereby enabling the continued defence of the Kertsch peninsula. For this action he was awarded the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 19 December 1943 as Oberst and Kommandeur of Grenadier-Regiment 282. He later received the Romanian Ordinul Mihai Viteazul Clasa 3 on 29 April 1944 and the Verwundetenabzeichen 1939 in Gold on 9 February 1945 while still serving with the Stab of Grenadier-Regiment 282. Karl Faulhaber died on 11 March 1972 in Munich, Bavaria.
Oberleutnant Karl Hausmann (1912-1997), born on 10 January 1912 in Neuweistritz-Habelschwerdt, Silesia, rose to prominence during the intense fighting on the Eastern Front. Serving initially with Infanterie-Regiment 28 of the 8. Infanterie-Division and later with Jäger-Regiment 28 of the 8. leichte-Division (redesignated as 8. Jäger-Division), he participated in campaigns in Poland, the West, and Operation Barbarossa before distinguishing himself in the brutal winter battles of 1942. As Oberfeldwebel and Führer of 3.Kompanie / I.Bataillon / Jäger-Regiment 28, Hausmann earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 15 May 1942 for his outstanding bravery and decisive leadership during Operation Bruckenschlag, the relief effort to break through to the encircled German forces in the Demyansk Pocket. In extreme winter conditions with temperatures below -30 degrees Celsius, deep snow, and fierce Soviet resistance, he personally led his Jäger troops in repeated assaults on fortified enemy positions near the Lovat River and Ramushewo, overcoming machine-gun fire and counterattacks through hand-to-hand combat and determined advances that helped secure the vital corridor, turning a stalled attack into a successful link-up with the trapped troops.
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HEER DECAL
Hauptmann Rudolf Schlee (1913-1979), a highly decorated soldier of the Wehrmacht who was born on 10 November 1913 in Ludwigshafen, Rheinland Provinz (German Empire), served as a platoon leader in the 6./Gebirgsjäger-Regiment 13 during World War II and demonstrated exceptional bravery in various campaigns. He earned the Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes on 23 October 1941 as Oberfeldwebel for his leadership and courage during intense combat operations, particularly in the mountain warfare contexts following the campaigns in the Balkans and the advance into the Soviet Union. His repeated acts of valor continued to stand out in the harsh fighting in the Caucasus region, where he led his Jäger platoon with outstanding initiative and determination, ultimately leading to the award of the Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes as the 222nd recipient on 6 April 1943. Schlee later rose to the rank of Hauptmann and survived the war, becoming one of the notable recipients of these prestigious German decorations for his frontline service.
Source :
https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/
https://www.bild.bundesarchiv.de/dba/de/
https://bpk-fotoarchiv.de/node/390
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stahlhelm
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?p=2632509#p2632509
https://www.szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl/
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