Hełm wz. 31
The hełm wz. 31 (helmet, 1931 pattern) was the basic combat helmet of the Polish Army before the outbreak of World War II and during the Invasion of Poland. The helmet became the basic type of combat headgear for Polish military formations in the 1930s and during the early stages of World War II. It was also exported to Persia, Albania and Republican Spain. By September 1939 approximately 320,000 helmets were delivered to the Polish Army.
| wz. 31 | |
|---|---|
The wz.31 helmet with grainy Salamandra surface | |
| Type | Combat helmet |
| Place of origin | Poland |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1933-1960' |
| Used by | See Users for details |
| Wars | World War II
|
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1930-1931 |
| Manufacturer | Huta Ludwików Huta Silesia |
| Produced | 1931-1939 |
| No. produced | 320 000 (1939) |
| Variants |
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| Specifications | |
| Weight | 1,3 kg |
While it was not the most common helmet in Polish service during World War II (in 1939 most of the mobilised soldiers were issued old French Adrian helmets), it became somewhat iconic and widely regarded in Poland as one of the symbols of Polish resistance. Because of this, the hełm wz. 67 designed in the late 1960s was based on the wz.31's silhouette.