German M16 steel helmet (Stahlhelm Model 1916)

German M16 steel helmet (Stahlhelm Model 1916), introduced during the First World War as a response to the need for improved head protection on the battlefield. This model represents the starting point of the modern German steel helmet design, which would influence military helmets for decades.

Manufactured from pressed steel, the helmet features a deep, extended shell, offering increased coverage to the sides of the head and the neck. Its most distinctive elements are the protruding side lugs (“horns”), which served both as ventilation points and as attachment mounts for an additional frontal armor plate (Stirnpanzer).

Inside, the helmet is fitted with a leather liner system, typically composed of multiple adjustable pads attached to a metal band, ensuring fit and comfort. A chin strap provides stability during use.

Following the First World War, the M16 continued to see use in the interwar period and was occasionally issued in secondary roles during the Second World War.

The M16 represents a significant milestone in helmet design, introducing a concept of extended head protection that shaped future military equipment.