Pickelhaube Research Project: What was the Spike used for?

[827_Katie]

Good evening everyone, I hope you are all well! So recently, I have decided to dedicate some time to researching everything about the Pickelhaube, and have started a research project. The end goal of this is to present my information to the history club on campus, and encourage young historians to maybe consider collecting and possibly develop an interest towards the history of the Pickelhaube and other things related.

I was wondering if I could pose a question. The one part of the pickelhaube that I have always been curious about is the use of the spike. So, what is the spike’s purpose?

I have done some research on this already, and have gotten many different answers, so I wanted to see what pickelhaube collectors think about it. I do have a few theories, but I don’t have anything to back these up yet.

1. This first one I believe is most likely false, because of the way a cavalry charge is done. This theory states that the spike is meant to deflect saber blows to the head. But to find out if this is true or not, I would have to look more into how a cavalry charge is done, because I don’t have much knowledge on that.

2. This theory, which I believe is true, states that the spike is meant to provide a militaristic and barbaric look, and is also there to be used in parades, making it completely for looks. But that leads me to wonder if there was actually a practical purpose for the spike. It could have been used entirely for looks, but I just don’t know.

3. This may or may not be true, it is just a thought. This theory states that the spike is meant to help identify soldiers. During Napoleonic warfare, when more smoke was present when using artillery, the spike was used as a way to identify German soldiers from the French during the Franco-Prussian war. (Unlike during the First World War, where German soldiers had to take their spikes off to blend in and not give away their position.)

4. This I believe is most likely true, and that is that the spike was used to identify rank among soldiers/officers. I have read this in a couple articles and a few books, but there may also be more than one way the spike was used.

Sorry for the long spiel, but I just want to know what all of you think because it would be a great topic of discussion for my presentation. This project will also be a great way for me to learn more, because I still have so much I don’t understand, and I wish to fill in those gaps.

Thank you!
Katie

 

[CLOVIS 57]

Hello Katie,
The tip of the Pickelhaube is the German version of the crest. In France, a banana-shaped crest was used to protect the head from blows from swords and stones after explosions (the same was used by the fire brigade). And to protect the nape of the neck and the back from blade cuts, there was the ponytail and the lobster-tail neck cover. The German cavalry also had the point and the lobster tail.
The German spike, like the French crest, was also designed to enhance the silhouette of both infantryman and cavalryman, in order to impress the enemy.
Lastly, the spike was an aeration tower to ventilate the scalp, reinforcing the holes drilled in the hull for this purpose.
The version in which the spike was used to deflect the blade is accurate and not a legend, even if there are doubts about the effectiveness of the device.
To sum up, the spike was adopted in Prussia in 1842 for all the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Sandmann]

Hello Katie,
I had the same questions and researched my answers in historical military magazines. All of my statements in the article are supported by period sources. I have listed the mostly German sources in the legend and, where possible, linked them. I hope the article answers your questions.

Historien-Kabinett.de/About_the_invention_and_introduction_of_the_Pickelhaube_in_Prussia_1842

A research on the invention and introduction of the spiked helmet in Prussia in 1842, based on original newspaper articles of the time.

historien-kabinett.de

Here you may find answers to helmet models of a special timeframe:

Development history of the Pickelhaube in Prussia between 1842-1918

historien-kabinett.de

 

[tabony]

Personally I believe it's all about the look. If it was about protection the helmets would be getting larger to cover more of the head, in the way that medieval helmets evolved. Instead they get smaller with changes in fashion.
I served in The Life Guards and some of the things that were said about our kit had no factual base, but people believed it.

 

[b.loree]

An excellent question Katie. Here are my ideas on the subject. First, I agree with the others here that the spike was intended to increase the height of the individual wearing it. I also support the concept that the spike and other metal fittings were intended to provide some protection from sword cuts. For example, the brass chin scales initially worn on both officer and ordinary ranks helmets were intended to protect the sides of the face. The only thing that I would add about the spike is that it also had a symbolic role as representing the spear point of the ancient warrior. Thus, we also see artillery helmets with the ball top representing the cannon ball. So I think that the construction of the pickelhaube represents a combination of factors……style, symbolism, height and protection. I would also add that I think that it is very cool that you are going to discuss this topic at your History club meeting.

 

[827_Katie]

Hello Katie,
The tip of the Pickelhaube is the German version of the crest. In France, a banana-shaped crest was used to protect the head from blows from swords and stones after explosions (the same was used by the fire brigade). And to protect the nape of the neck and the back from blade cuts, there was the ponytail and the lobster-tail neck cover. The German cavalry also had the point and the lobster tail.
The German spike, like the French crest, was also designed to enhance the silhouette of both infantryman and cavalryman, in order to impress the enemy.
Lastly, the spike was an aeration tower to ventilate the scalp, reinforcing the holes drilled in the hull for this purpose.
The version in which the spike was used to deflect the blade is accurate and not a legend, even if there are doubts about the effectiveness of the device.
To sum up, the spike was adopted in Prussia in 1842 for all the reasons mentioned above.

Hello, thank you so much for your reply! I’m sorry for my late response. I never thought of the spike as a purpose for ventilation, although I knew that the spike had ventilation holes, I just never figured it would be part of the purpose. So thank you for bringing that to my attention, that makes a lot of sense!

I can also see stylistically how the pickelhaube was used to enhance the silhouettes of soldiers, like the French Crest, and I don’t think that the saber blow concept is entirely a myth as you mentioned, but I will have to look into it more.

I was speaking to a friend about this, but the other reason that there might be a protection factor in the spike is because look at the American 1880s parade helmets. They are made of felt and have the spike, as they resemble the Pickelhaube. But when World War One broke out, the felt cap and helmet was used by the Americans, British, French etc., (and feldmütze by the Germans) and the pickelhaube still used by the Germans up to 1916 until they switched to the Stalhelm.

This does make me wonder if they kept the pickelhaube only for tradition, or if certain parts of it were actually protective in battle. Unless, it was only used stylistically to scare the enemy and make the Germans appear militaristic and strong, but they certainly switched to the Stalhelm because the pickelhaube unfortunately wasn’t doing it for them. These are just questions and I still have much to research, but I appreciate your insight! Thank you!

Katie

 

[827_Katie]

Hello Katie,
I had the same questions and researched my answers in historical military magazines. All of my statements in the article are supported by period sources. I have listed the mostly German sources in the legend and, where possible, linked them. I hope the article answers your questions.

Historien-Kabinett.de/About_the_invention_and_introduction_of_the_Pickelhaube_in_Prussia_1842

A research on the invention and introduction of the spiked helmet in Prussia in 1842, based on original newspaper articles of the time.

historien-kabinett.de

Here you may find answers to helmet models of a special timeframe:

https://historien-kabinett.de/Devel...-Pickelhaube-in-Prussia-between-1842-1918[/UR

Hey, I hope you’re well! Thank you for giving me some articles to look at, it’s impressive that you’ve done so much research! I’m glad that you have put it out there for others to learn from. I will definitely take a look at these! This may answer my spike question once and for all too.

Katie

 

[827_Katie]

Personally I believe it's all about the look. If it was about protection the helmets would be getting larger to cover more of the head, in the way that medieval helmets evolved. Instead they get smaller with changes in fashion.
I served in The Life Guards and some of the things that were said about our kit had no factual base, but people believed it.

Thank you for your insight, I believe that it is definitely true it is about the looks, that is definitely a part of it. But if it actually had any protective attributions, that I’m not sure of yet. Also thank you for your service!

Katie

 

[827_Katie]

An excellent question Katie. Here are my ideas on the subject. First, I agree with the others here that the spike was intended to increase the height of the individual wearing it. I also support the concept that the spike and other metal fittings were intended to provide some protection from sword cuts. For example, the brass chin scales initially worn on both officer and ordinary ranks helmets were intended to protect the sides of the face. The only thing that I would add about the spike is that it also had a symbolic role as representing the spear point of the ancient warrior. Thus, we also see artillery helmets with the ball top representing the cannon ball. So I think that the construction of the pickelhaube represents a combination of factors……style, symbolism, height and protection. I would also add that I think that it is very cool that you are going to discuss this topic at your History club meeting.

Hello b.loree, you definitely gave me something to think about! This is great, and you’ve opened my mind to a couple of things I didn’t consider.

I do believe it is a combination of all these factors, I am still looking into potential factors of protection in regards to the spike, but I never thought about the spike enhancing the silhouette of the soldiers, that makes so much sense to me now that I’ve read it! As you mentioned, there are certainly other attributes besides the spike that offered protection, like the metal fittings. I didn’t consider this either. Symbolism is definitely a big part of it, I also didn’t know that the cannonball was the symbol of the ball on the artillery pickelhaube spike, so that would be helpful in my research.

I can’t wait to give my presentation to history club! It’s going to make my entire year talking about something that I love and I’m passionate with others. I have a couple friends that will be watching it via zoom, so if any of you want to zoom recording, I can definitely send it in somehow, or at least a PowerPoint presentation. Hopefully the zoom works though and doesn’t give me problems.

Thank you once again,

Katie

 

[Sandmann]

This does make me wonder if they kept the pickelhaube only for tradition, or if certain parts of it were actually protective in battle. Unless, it was only used stylistically to scare the enemy and make the Germans appear militaristic and strong, but they certainly switched to the Stalhelm because the pickelhaube unfortunately wasn’t doing it for them. These are just questions and I still have much to research, but I appreciate your insight! Thank you!

Katie, as I wrote in my article, the Pickelhaube was initially developed to protect foot soldiers from cavalry sword attacks. But in the second half of the 19th century, war tactics changed and the helmet was only kept because of military traditions. Around 1880, the developers' requirements for the new Model 1887 were simply that it should look stylish and protect against sunlight:

Modifications of the Pickelhaube between 1887-1890

historien-kabinett.de

About the end of use of the Pickelhaube, in my opinion it was seen as a symbol of success for monarchies and because the new rulers if the revolution in 1918 despised the monarchy, it had to go. Had the monarchy survived, it would certainly still be worn by the guard and during military traditions such as the changing of the guard. Just like it is in the UK and France.

 

[Nacuaa]

Its important to focus on the original M42 model (see the new discussion below). One of our contributors compared this model to his leather kurassier helmet of the early 19th century elsewhere on this site. Sandmann's research indicates that the spiked helmet was considered to be an improvement over this earlier crested model in sabre tests. Its not just the spike but the cross spike base together over the helmet that constitutes the protection. To me the ideal solution comes with the 1857-60 model with all its compact hardware. From then it becomes more emblematic. These early armies are armed with muskets and dependent upon fighting in close formations. One of the jobs of the cavalry since Napoleonic times is to exploit any opportunity to attack a broken formation or pursue retreating soldiers on the run when they are most vulnerable and cut them down with heavy "Blucher" sabres. Shakos make troops look formidable in the line but don't protect from sabre cuts under these conditions so the introduction of a leather "heavy cavalry" helmet is an inspired development that would give soldiers some added insurance of survival so that they might better reform on the field. In terms of military fashion, another contributor on this site described the increased fascination across Europe with "orientalism" in archaeology, arts, architecture, fashion etc. by the mid-nineteenth century and the spiked helmets of the ancient warriors of the east were doubtless an inspiration.

Link to Skipper John's discussion of the 1809 Prussian kurassier crested helmet.

Prussian Line Cuirassier EM Model 1809

During the War of the Fourth Coalition, under the hands of the French army and Napoleon Bonaparte, the Prussian Army was decisively beaten in 1806 at the battles of Saalfeld, Jena, and Auerstedt. Prussia submitted to major territorial losses, was made to reduce its army to just 42,000 men, and...

www.pickelhaubes.com