Earlier, we looked at the Soviet M36 steel helmet, which was manufactured from 1936 until 1941. Today, we examine the next model of Soviet helmet, the Ssh-39 (stalnoy shlem), or Steel Helmet, Model 1939.
This was the first Soviet helmet to have a more modern design, and was much easier to make than the earlier M36, as it lacked the wide side flares or the top crest. Indeed, this same general design of helmet stayed in service for the next 29 years. The Ssh-39 was produced from 1939, until being phased out in 1942.
The hallmark external feature of the Ssh-39 is rivet placement. The Ssh-39 has only 3 external rivets, one on each side, and one in the back, all placed high on the crown of the helmet. The later Ssh-40 helmet has six rivets, all near the bottom of the helmet. Knowing proper rivet placement on Soviet helmets is essential in identifying different models, and saving yourself from making a costly collecting mistake!
The Ssh39 was produced mostly in 3 factories, Stalingrad Tractor Factory (marked CT inside the helmet), Red October Factory (3K0), and the Lysva Metallurgical Factory (LMZ). Generally, Soviet helmets will be marked with the abbreviation of the production factory, and then a date of production using the last two digits of the year produced, followed by an “r” symbol (abbreviation for the Russian word for year.) This helmet is marked with LMZ – 41r (Lysva, 1941). When collecting Soviet militaria, having at least a rudimentary understanding of Cyrillic is essential!
The Ssh39 originally was issued with an eight fingered leather liner, which like the M36 leather liners did not hold up well in service. The next liner was similar in pattern, but was made of a theroformed paperboard. This too was replaced in service by a cloth liner, similar to the final cloth liner of the M36. Examples we have examined (and the example featured here) tend to have cloth liners with an oilcloth sweatband. All the liners were held in the helmet by three metal tabs, riveted near the top crown of the helmet.
Ssh39 helmets will be found both with and without the frontal red star. Helmets without the star would obviously be more practical for combat, where being inconspicuous is key, but for collectors a red star is extremely desirable. Chinstraps could be both cloth or leather, although cloth tended to be more durable, and as such is more commonly encountered today.
As we noted in a previous post, any Soviet WWII helmet is rare, and the Ssh39 is even more unusual as it was used for a brief period of time. Since the Russian Government has clamped down on exports of WWII items, it’s doubtful if more helmets will be hitting the market in any quantity. Even in Russia, this is a rare piece, as most were used hard in WWII service. The few we have encountered generally entered the US in the early 1990’s, as the Soviet Union destabilized and militaria was sold for hard cash.
This helmet is being reproduced, oftentimes from Ssh40 pattern helmets, generally of post-war manufacture, with inside maker stamps being altered to show wartime production or obliterated completely. Once again, rivet placement is key to identification, as no other Soviet helmet used the 3 rivets high along the crown, so look for this if you are in the market for one of these helmets.
The helmet pictured here is an exceptional example of an all original Ssh39 with original cloth liner and cloth chinstrap, made at Lysva in 1941. It retains the majority of its original green paint, and has a typical stenciled hammer and sickle inside a red star on the front. Wear is commensurate with many years of storage, and it appears that it was never issued, as there are no dents or other damage to the helmet shell.
Collecting Soviet militaria is a fascinating and varied field, and in future posts, we will examine other original WWII Soviet equipment and field gear.
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